Ellis Island History

Ellis Island is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the north of Liberty Island, in the Upper New York Bay area, and is one of the iconic landmarks of American history, and part of the Statue of Liberty monument. It is through this island, that millions of immigrants who were to become the ancestors of present day Americans entered the United States, between the years 1892 and 1954. More than 80% of Ellis Island as it exists today has been created by landfill and back-bay reclamation; the island increase in size from its initial 3.3 acres to nearly 28 acres and belongs to the United States Federal Government. Ellis Island was designated as a federal immigration and inspection station in 1890, by the then American President Benjamin Harrison, prior to which it was home to native Americans, primarily of the Lenape tribe, before the arrival of the Dutch and the European settlers. The history of Ellis island is as fascinating as it is gripping - more than 40% of present day Americans, have descended from an ancestor who passed through this Gateway to the New world - how's that for starters?

Ellis Island History for Kids

Prior to its acquisition by the U.S government in 1808, Ellis Island was owned by Samuel Ellis, from whom it gets its name, until 1794, when it was leased to the State of New York. Between the years 1808 and 1814, it was to become a federal arsenal, owned by the U.S Government, then a military base, which it remained till 1890, when it was designated as an immigration station. Between the years 1892 and 1954, when the 'gates' were closed, more than 12 million immigrants landed on and passed through Ellis island to begin their lives in the United States. Many of these immigrants were Europeans, looking to escape from war, drought, famine and religious persecution. Many were Jews, escaping from Czarist Russia, and then Nazi occupied Germany and Europe. The following are some interesting Ellis Island facts, just the tip of the proverbial iceberg that makes up the history of Ellis Island.

• The first immigrant to enter the United states through Ellis Island was 15 year old Annie Moore, an Irish girl, who accompanied her brother in their voyage across the ocean, to join their parents who had immigrated to the United States two years prior. Annie Moore passed through Ellis island on January the first, 1892, and received a $10 gold piece, as a greeting from officials. Arne Peterson, on the other hand, enters Ellis island history as the last person to pass through this outpost, in 1954.
• In 1897, the immigration structure burned down, and millions of records were destroyed, though fortunately, no lives were lost. The station reopened in December 1900, with a brick structure to replace the earlier wooden one, to avert the risk of another fire. The new building was built larger, in order to accommodate more people with ease.
• In the 1907, Ellis island was to approve a record 1,004, 756 immigrants, in a spate of new arrivals anxious to escape an imminent World War I. April 17th, 1907, is an important day in Ellis Island history - officials handled 11,747 immigrants - in a single day.
• In 1924, the US Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924, which placed severe restrictions on the admittance of immigrants, primarily accepting only war refugees. The Ellis Island immigration station closed down permanently in November 1954.
• In the October of 1965, Ellis Island was given a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and made a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, formally placing it in the books of American history and heritage. It today houses, among other noted structures, the restored Beaux Arts Main Building, an iconic landmark of American history.

Ellis Island history peppers the pages of books that describe the people that make up the melting pot of culture that is America. In their hopes of staring new lives and setting out afresh, people the world over made trans Atlantic voyages, and entered the United States, to pursue the now famous American dream. These are the people to which over 100 million Americans owe their descent and nationality. The history of Ellis Island is steeped in legend - perhaps you may find a part of your family tree recorded there...