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13.06.08
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is where some 12 million
immigrants arrived to settle in the USA
from 1892
to when it finally closed in
the early 1900s.
The island is now a museum. I rented and
took an audio tour through the restored Main
Building
where we spent 3 hours exploring
the incredible history of the place.
I loved every minute of it.
Ellis Island immigration station opened on
January 1, 1892. Five years later the wooden
building
was destroyed by fire, along with many
immigration records. The new Renaissance style
building was opened on December
17, 1990 and
welcomed 2,251 new arrivals. Ferries and barges
bought "steerage" passengers out to Ellis from the
arriving
steamships. First and second class
passengers were quickly processed
on board ship.
Immigrants entered the Baggage Room on the
ground floor of the building and
claimed their
luggage from the waiting piles. They then
climbed the stairs to the Registry Room
on the floor above.
The Registry Room where inspectors questioned
each individual. Included among the 29
questions
were name, home town, occupation, destination
and amount of money they carried.
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| the incredible domed ceiling of the Registry Room |
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| Hospital buildings viewed from the Registry Room |
Doctors watched as immigrants entered the building;
a limp, laboured breathing, or other
suspected
troubles warranted futher medical exams. Those
suspected of illness were sent across to the
hospital buildings
and contagious
diseases wards.
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| New York skyline viewed from the Registry Room |
Those allowed to pass continued down these stairs,
exchanged money, bought provisions
and perhaps
rail tickets. A third stayed in New York City; others
headed elsewhere. Only one or two percent were
denied
entry.
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| one of the many photographs on display |
Our view through the Cafe window where we
had our lunch. I watched this flag as I ate my
first
real American hotdog and pretzel!
We finally left the Island at about 6 o’clock and
took the return ferry back to Battery
Point.
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