Ellis Island

For millions of immigrants, Ellis Island was a symbol of hope and freedom. Between 1892 and 1954, a very large number of people came to the United States. They came for a new life. There were over 12 million immigrants during this time. The largest wave of people came in the year 1907.

Ellis Island is located just off the New Jersey shore in New York Harbor. Ellis Island was set aside as the immigration center. The name came from Samuel Ellis, who owned the island in the 1770s.

In the beginning, Ellis Island was used as a defense post against the British. As the colonists fought the British, it served to protect New York Harbor. Later, Ellis Island became a staging place for new immigrants. Ships arrived and delivered people there. Doctors checked for illness and disease.

A ship’s manifest listed all the names of the people on board. Sometimes the workers could not read the foreign names, so they wrote down different last names. Many people had their names changed by clerks on the island.

For some people, Ellis Island was known as the “Island of Tears.” Not all people were allowed to enter the United States. If they had a contagious disease or seemed a concern, they were forced to stay on the island and work. Some were even sent home. Most people passed through the island in just a few hours.