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Ellis Island Virtual Tour
From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. Through the years, this gateway to the new world was enlarged from its original 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres mostly by landfill obtained from excess earth from the construction of the New York City subway system. Prior to 1890, the individual states (rather than the Federal government) regulated immigration into the United States.
These early immigrants came from nations such as England, Ireland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries and constituted the first large wave of immigrants that settled and populated the United States. Throughout the 1800s and intensifying in the latter half of the 19th century, ensuing political instability, restrictive religious laws and deteriorating economic conditions in Europe began to fuel the largest mass human migration in the history of the world. The Federal government intervened and constructed a new Federally-operated immigration station on Ellis Island.
The new structure on Ellis Island, built of "Georgia pine" opened on January 1, 1892. Annie Moore, a teenage Irish girl, accompanied by her two brothers, entered history and a new country as she was the very first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island. Over the next 62 years, more than 12 million were to follow through this port of entry.
These early immigrants came from nations such as England, Ireland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries and constituted the first large wave of immigrants that settled and populated the United States. Throughout the 1800s and intensifying in the latter half of the 19th century, ensuing political instability, restrictive religious laws and deteriorating economic conditions in Europe began to fuel the largest mass human migration in the history of the world. The Federal government intervened and constructed a new Federally-operated immigration station on Ellis Island.
The new structure on Ellis Island, built of "Georgia pine" opened on January 1, 1892. Annie Moore, a teenage Irish girl, accompanied by her two brothers, entered history and a new country as she was the very first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island. Over the next 62 years, more than 12 million were to follow through this port of entry.
Basic Overview of Ellis Island: By the Numbers
Mini Museum Tour of Ellis Island
This video clip is an oral history of immigrants as they retell their stories of coming through Ellis Island.