The History of Ellis Island

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The History of Ellis Island

Ellis Island is a small island in New York Harbor. It is located just off the New Jersey coast, within the shadow of the statue of liberty. In 1890 Ellis Island was designated as one of the first federal-operated immigration stations by President Benjamin Harrison, and for 62 years Ellis Island was an immigration portal, through which 12 million immigrants entered the United States.

Before Ellis Island became an immigration station the island had a varied history. The local Indians had called the island “Kioshk” and “Gull Island”, and by the time Samuel Ellis purchased the property in 1785, the island had been called Oyster, Kioshk, Bucking, Dyre, Gull Island and Anderson''''s Island. Ellis Island went from being a small island that hardly rose above the high tide mark, to a hanging site for pirates, a harbor fort, a military depot, and finally to the biggest immigration station in America.

Ellis Island’s great importance to the United State’s history is not just because of the immigration station, but also because of its military history. Because of its large and powerful naval fleet, the United States was able to sail unimpeded into New York Harbor during the British occupation of New York City during the Revolutionary War.

Before 1890, the individual states regulated the immigration into the United States and Castle Clinton served as the New York State immigration station prior to Ellis Island’s opening on 1 January, 1892. Approximately eight million immigrants passed through Castle Clinton and they were mainly from Northern and Western Europe.

In 1808 the United States Government purchased Ellis Island from New York State and in the late 1800’s the Government started to invent and construct a federal-operated immigration station on Ellis Island. On January 1, 1892 a 15 year-old Irish girl, Annie Moore, followed by her two brothers, created history by passing through the doors of the main building, into a new country. As a “bonus” Col. John B. Weber, the commissioner for the post of New York, offered the first immigrant to pass through the new immigration station, Annie Moore, a ten dollar gold piece.

Five years after the grand opening of the immigration station on Ellis Island, a fire broke out, burning everything to the ground. Although no one was severely hurt, some federal and state immigration records were lost in the fire. The United States Government ordered the immigration facility be replaced, but under one condition; all future estates built on Ellis Island should be fireproof. In December of 1900 the new main building was opened.

Although Ellis Island was not the only immigration station in the United States it was the biggest. People arrived in boats and had to undergo an inspection process before they could enter the United States. The inspection process was necessary so the people entering the United States would not become a burden to the state. The federal Government had to make sure that the person passing through would not easily end up in a hospital or in a court room. The people traveling in first and second class did not have to go through the inspection process.

The Government felt that if a person could afford to purchase a first or second class ticket, they were less likely to become a burden in America. These people underwent a small cursory inspection aboard ship. The passengers in third class and “steerage” did not have an easy trip, though. They often traveled in crowded and unsanitary conditions and when they got to New York City they had to undergo a legal and medical inspection. Although Ellis Island was know as “The Island of Tears” only two percent of the immigrants were excluded from entry. The main reason why someone would be excluded was if a doctor diagnosed the person with a contagious disease which could endanger the public health, or if a legal advisor thought that the person might become a public charge or a menace to the society.

Due to the United States participation in World War I and to harsher legislation, immigration to the United States and through Ellis Island began to decrease and during World War I and World War II, Ellis Island primarily served as a detention center for alien enemies. By 1946, 7000 Japanese, German and Italian people were held in custody on Ellis Island.

Finally, in 1954, Ellis Island was shut down by the Immigration Services and its services got transferred back to Manhattan. The immigration station on Ellis Island was open between 1892 and 1954. During that time 12 million people entered the United States through the immigration portal. The station has given many people new opportunities and new lives in America.

President Lyndon Johnson declared Ellis Island part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965 and it was open to the public between 1976 and 1984. In 1984, Ellis Island underwent a major restoration, which allowed the main building to be reopened in 1990.

It is now called “Ellis Island Immigration Museum” and receives almost two million visitors a year. Once inside of the museum the visitors are able to look at examples of the possessions the immigrants brought with them and learn about the history of the island. The visitors leave Ellis Island with greater knowledge about the people who passed through the Ellis Island Immigration Center and about the history of the island.

Conclusions

After reading about Ellis Island I have come to understand why Ellis Island is so important to the American people. The island represents everything that has to do with getting another chance and creating a new life in another country. Many people in the United States have forefathers who came into America through the Ellis Island Immigration Center. Modern America is built on immigration and that makes Ellis Island an emblematic site which symbolizes the foundation of the modern United States.

The initiative to turn the main building into a museum was, in my opinion, great. The people with ancestors who immigrated to America through Ellis Island are n...