All About Ellis Island

About Ellis Island

Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty and served as the United States' primary immigration station from 1892 to 1954. During this period, over 12 million immigrants passed through its doors, seeking new opportunities and the promise of the American Dream. As time passed, it was also used as a detention center, fort, and arsenal.

Today, it is a National Monument that attracts over 3 million visitors every year, and it houses the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which contains records of more than 22 million people who migrated to the US from various parts of the world.

Historical Overview of Ellis Island

Originally a modest 3.3-acre island, Ellis Island was significantly expanded to 27.5 acres using landfill, including material from ship ballast and possibly excess earth from the construction of New York City's subway system. The federal government purchased the island from New York State in 1808, utilizing it for various purposes before transforming it into an immigration station.

The facility officially opened on January 1, 1892, with Annie Moore, a teenage girl from Ireland, being the first immigrant processed. Over the next six decades, millions followed in her footsteps, making Ellis Island a bustling hub of hope for the American Dream.

The Immigration Process

Upon arrival, immigrants underwent a series of inspections to ensure they met the health and legal requirements to enter the United States. These procedures included medical examinations and interviews conducted by immigration officials.

The series of physical and mental tests looked something like this:

Immigrants who failed the eye test would be marked with the letter “E”, while those who failed the physical and mental tests would be labeled “L” and “X” respectively. After that, they would be inspected for medical problems such as tuberculosis, favus, and measles.

Immigrants who were suffering from any of these health problems would be sent to the second floor of the immigration building, where they had to go through further inspection conducted by the US Public Health Service. Following the health inspection, they would be asked a number of questions by immigration officers, who would decide whether to release or detain them.

Despite the challenges, the majority of immigrants were granted entry, embarking on new lives across the country. It's estimated that close to 40% of current U.S. citizens can trace at least one ancestor back to Ellis Island.

Ellis Islands Evolution

A new immigration act was passed in 1924, leading to a significant decrease in the number of immigrants arriving in Ellis Island. During the Second World War, the island also served as a detention center for enemy seamen, with the dormitory and baggage building being used as detention facility. The US Coast Guard also used the island as a training center for about 60,000 servicemen. The arrivals of immigrants continued to dwindle, and the government decided to close the Ellis Island immigration station in 1954.

From 1924 to 1954, the immigration center allowed less than 3 million immigrants into the country.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson declared Ellis Island a National Monument, and it was opened as a public attraction from 1976 to 1984. The island underwent extensive restoration works in 1985, and the total cost of the project amounted to $160 million. It was the biggest historic restoration project in the history of the US, and it was funded by The Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island Inc. as well as the National Park Service. The main building of the island was transformed into the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, and it was reopened as a place of interest on the 10th of September, 1990.

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