Ellis Island

Ellis Island is a historical site that opened in1892 as an immigration station, a purpose it served for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954. Located at the mouth of Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, Ellis Island saw millions of newly arrived immigrants pass through its doors-in fact, it has been estimated taht close to 40 % of all current U.S citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island.

When Ellis Island opened, a great change was taking place in U.S immigration. Fewer arrivals were coming from northern and western Europe- Germany, Ireland, Britai and the Scandinavian countries- as more and more immigrants poured in from southern and eastern Europe.

Among this new generation were Jews escaping from political and economic oppression in czarist Russia and eastern Europe (some 484.000 arrived in 1910 alone) and Italians escaping poverty in their country.

The island welcomed about 12 millions people between its opening on January 1, 1892 and its closing on November 12, 1954. Most of the immigrants who went through Ellis Island were European, with also a part coming from Arab countries dominated by the Ottoman Empire.

From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island was America's largest and most active immigration station, where over 12 millions immigrants were processed. Ellis Island was "the island of hope" for the majority of immigrants. For the rest, it became "the island of tears" a place whee families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the United States.

Ellis Island opened to the public in 1976. Today, visitors can tour the Ellis Island Museum of immigration in the restored. Main Arrivals Hall and trace their ancestors through millions of immigrant arrival records made available to the public in 2001. In this way, Ellis Island remains a central destination fpr millions of Americans seeking a glimse into the history of their country, and in many cases, into their own family's story.

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