![]() ![]() Only 2% of people were excluded from entry reasons for denial included having a contagious disease or concerns they wouldn't find legal employment. As well as a legal inspection carried out with the help of interpreters, doctors scanned every individual for physical ailments and medical conditions. The inspections took place in the Registry Room (now known as the Great Hall) and they lasted several hours. First and second class passengers arriving by steamship in New York Harbor were not required to undergo the inspection process as they were considered 'affluent', but third class or steerage passengers or those with legal or health problems were sent to Ellis Island to be processed. ![]() Over the next 62 years, more than 12 million immigrants arrived to the US via Ellis Island. ![]() The US Government decided to construct a new immigration station on Ellis Island, and opened its doors on January 1, 1892.Ī teenage girl from Ireland called Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed there, accompanied by her two younger brothers. Prior to 1890, individual states regulated immigration into the US, but around that time, rising political instability, economic distress and religious persecution in Europe fueled one of the largest mass human migration in history. It is only accessible to the public by ferry, and purchasing tickets online in advance can help to avoid long queues.Įllis Island can only be reached by ferry © iofoto/Shutterstock HistoryĮllis Island is named after one of its previous owners, Samuel Ellis, but was previously known as Little Oyster Island, while the original native Mohegan name for the island was "Kioshk," meaning "Gull Island.” Ellis Island was used by the military for much of the 19th century and house batteries and naval magazines. Visitors keen to trace their ancestors’ details can avail of searchable historic records.Įllis Island has featured in many movies, including The Godfather: Part II and Brooklyn and is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Housed inside the restored Main Building of the former immigration complex, you'll find narratives from historians, immigrants themselves and other sources that animate a fascinating collection of personal objects, official documents, photographs and film footage. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration delivers a poignant tribute to their experiences. More than 100 million living Americans are the descendants of these arrivals hoping to attain the American dream for themselves and their children. It pays tribute to the indelible courage of more than 12 million immigrants who passed through this processing station between 18, after journeys that often took weeks and were spent under difficult conditions. To learn more, visit the exhibit "Restoring a Landmark" on the East side of the third floor.Located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island is the US's most famous and historically important gateway and is home to one of the country’s most moving museums. Photographs of the room during other time periods can be seen on the east and west ends of the balcony. The Registry Room has been restored to its appearance in 1918-24, including several original wooden benches. About one percent would be denied admission for violation of America laws. Those detained for additional legal examination waited for an opportunity to explain further in the Board of Special Inquiry room where their hearing would be held. Those allowed to pass continued downstairs. Inspectors behind desks asked immigrants their name, home town, occupation, destination, and the amount of money they carried. The majority of immigrants passed through the medical inspection the same day. If found, they would mark the immigrant with a chalk mark letter, indicating the suspected illness, and earmarking the immigrant for further examination. The doctors and medical inspectors would look for any signs of illness or contagious diseases. The medical inspection was the first examination which an immigrant had to pass. Here they encountered the complex demands of the immigration laws and an American bureaucracy that could either grant or withhold permission to land in the United States. It was here that immigrants underwent medical and legal examinations. For most immigrants, this great hall epitomized Ellis Island. On many days, over 5,000 people would file through the space. Nearly every day, for over two decades (1900-1924), the Registry Room was filled with new arrivals waiting to be inspected and registered by Immigration Service officers. ![]() For the immigrants, however, the room was often a loud, confusing and frightening place. Today, the enormous arched windows and immense open spaces of the Registry Room evoke a feeling of grandeur. ![]()
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