Gateway of Possibilities: Ellis Island
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door”
-Sonnet by Emma Lazarus, Inscription for the Statue of Liberty
From 1892 to 1954 Ellis Island served as the gateway to the United States for over 12 million immigrants. This small island, located off the southern tip of Manhattan, was the first US Federal immigration station and the most popular destination for steamship companies. After a long journey across the Atlantic, Ellis Island provided immigrants with their first glimpse of America. Imagine the thoughts that ran through their minds as their boat navigated into New York Harbor – the places and people they had left behind, their voyage across the ocean, the inspection process they now faced and what kind of fate awaited them in their new world.
Why People Came
The reasons behind a person’s decisions to immigrate to America were as numerous and varied as the people themselves.The Journey
The trip to Ellis Island was not always an easy one.Inspection
Undergoing Ellis Island's inspection process was often a daunting experience.The Next Step: Life Beyond Ellis Island
There was no guarantee of success for the immigrants who passed through Ellis Island. Many of them found happiness in America, while others faced disappointment.Sources
Credits
Developed by Heather Maclean, intern for Museum on Main Street