Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is a symbol of America’s immigrant heritage. For more than six decades - 1892 to 1954 - the immigrant depot processed the greatest tide of incoming humanity in the nation’s history. Over twelve million people landed here; today their descendents account for 40% of the country’s population. Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island ushered in a new era of immigration with each newcomer’s eligibility to land now determined by federal law. The government established a special bureau to process the record numbers that were arriving at the end of 19th century. More than 70% landed in New York, the country’s largest port.
In his book A Nation of Immigrants, John F. Kennedy writes, “There were probably as many reasons for coming to America as there were people who came. It was a highly individual decision.” Historians agree that three social forces were the chief motivators for the mass migration to America: religious persecution, political oppression, and economic hardship.
Overview:
Ellis Island is a small island in Upper New York Bay, although in New Jersey waters, it is under the political jurisdiction of New York. It was a major immigration station for the United States from 1892 to 1943 and an immigrant detention station until 1954. Since 1965, it has been part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
Early History:
The island was named for Samuel Ellis, who owned the island in the 1770s. It was purchased by the federal government from New York State in 1808 and was used as a fort. After the creation of the Immigration Bureau (1891), the immigration station was moved from Castle Garden
(at Battery Park, Manhattan) to Ellis Island.
Processing:
At Ellis, immigrants were examined and either admitted or deported; at the height of its activity, the Ellis Island station could process 1 million people a year.
Ellish Island Attractions
Ellis Island Museum
The Ellis Island Museum has beautifully restored rooms and hallways highlighting the island’s 19th-Century architecture. Visitors can stand in the restored Great Hall and envision thousands of immigrants waiting in line, clutching their children and everything they own, as they file through inspection lines for acceptance or rejection. The three-story museum in the Main Building has 30 rooms full of maps, photographs, exhibits and artifacts about the Ellis Island immigrant experience. The Treasures From Home exhibit features items donated by family members of people who came through Ellis Island.
American Family Immigration History Center
The American Family Immigration History Center helps visitors find information about their relatives. Set to be opened in the spring of 2001, the American Family Immigration History Center is using passenger data taken directly from immigrant ship’s registries. For a fee, visitors will be able to get information about their ancestors such as their arrival date, ship’s name, country of birth and point of departure from the Old World. The Wall of Honor allows visitors to have their family’s name inscribed on a wall for a $100 donation. The Wall of Honor is designed to commemorate the contributions of immigrants to the building of America.
Hours of Operation and Location
Ellis Island is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument located in New York Harbor and can be reached only by ferry. Both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both historic sites are closed on Christmas Day. The Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry sails from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, New York City. For sailing times and the cost of tickets, call the Circle Line at 212-269-5755.
