Ellis Island

Ellis Island for many immigrants was like starting on a clean sheet of paper in life. Ellis Island was an immigration center for many years. All different types of people pass through Ellis Island with all different stories. When coming to America seeing the Statue of Liberty was a great sign of hope and joy. When hearing the word Island in Ellis Island do not be fooled it is not the tropical beach you may think it is.

Ellis Island was an immigration center from 1892- 1954. Over that time period over twelve million immigrants passed through from all over the world. Ellis Island is named after Samuel Ellis. He was a merchant and farmer who owned Ellis Island during the late 1700’s. For over sixty years Ellis Island was the gateway to the new world for many immigrants.

When arriving at Ellis Island many people would cheer at the sight of the Statue of Liberty because the trip across the Atlantic was long and tiring. First Health officers would check the ship. If the ship passed the inspection officers would go to check the first and second class passengers which were often the wealthier people on the ship. These lucky few could leave the ship when it docked New York. Third class passengers would often have to wait days or hours till they could leave the ship for the building of Ellis Island.

Once in the building immigrants would be given a numbered id tag, and be ordered to put their precious belongings in the baggage room. This time could often be very hectic because there were very many different people that all did not speak the same language. Next, immigrants would head for the Registry Room where there would be legal and medical inspections. They would be questioned by government officials and examined by doctors. The next step was the Stairs of Separation where people would go off on their separate ways.

At the Stairs of Separation people would go off to continue their new life in America. People that were traveling to New York or to the north...