Ellis Island was a United States reception center for immigrants for more than 60 years. It is located in New York Harbor, less than 1/2 mile (0.8 kilometer) north of Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty. Over 12 million people first entered the United States through Ellis Island. The island is named for Samuel Ellis, a merchant and farmer who owned it during the late 1700’s. The United States government bought the island in 1808.
The government began using Ellis Island as an immigration station in 1892. About 35 buildings were constructed on the island. Newcomers were taken to the main building, an impressive two-story wooden structure. That building burned down in 1897, and was replaced by a three-story brick building. The immigrants were questioned by government officials and examined by doctors. Certain people were prohibited by federal law from immigrating to the United States. They included criminals, the insane, and people who had infectious diseases. But about 98 percent of those examined at Ellis Island were allowed into the country.
The island’s large-scale use as an immigration station ended in 1924. The station closed completely in 1954. In 1965, the island became a national historic site, part of the existing Statue of Liberty National Monument. The site is managed and operated by the federal government’s National Park Service.
The National Park Service began major repairs of the island’s buildings in the 1980’s. The island was reopened to the public in 1990. The main building was completely restored and is now the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The museum’s exhibits include old photographs, clothing, toys, and passports of immigrants. Visitors can listen to recordings of immigrants sharing their memories of Ellis Island. Several rooms, including the Registry Room or Great Hall (main reception area), now appear as they did between 1918 and 1924, the island’s busiest years as an immigration station. The American Immigrant Wall of Honor, created in 1990, stands outside the museum. The names of hundreds of thousands of immigrants are engraved on this wall in honor of all immigrants.
Both the states of New York and New Jersey have long claimed official jurisdiction over Ellis Island. In 1834, the two states agreed to give New York official jurisdiction over the land while New Jersey got jurisdiction over the surrounding water and submerged land. At the time, the island covered only 3.3 acres (1.3 hectares). But through the years, landfill added 24.2 acres (9.8 hectares) to the total area. New Jersey sued New York to gain jurisdiction over the island. In 1998, a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court gave New Jersey jurisdiction over all of the island except the original 3.3 acres, which New York kept. All buildings on Ellis Island are owned by the federal government, and the National Park Service continues to manage and operate the site.
See also Moore, Annie.
