Imagine passing through the very same halls as over 12 million hopeful souls, where the echoes of a single day's 4,500 arrivals tell the foundational story of modern America.
Key Takeaways
- Ellis Island welcomed its first two immigrants, Annie Moore from Ireland and her two younger brothers, on January 1, 1892, marking the official opening of the station.
- From 1892 to 1954, a total of approximately 12 million immigrants were processed through Ellis Island, representing about 40% of all U.S. immigrants during that period.
- The peak year for immigration at Ellis Island was 1907, when 1,004,756 immigrants were processed, averaging over 2,700 per day.
- The Ellis Island Immigration Station was constructed on 27.5 acres of landfill created from dredged Manhattan mud.
- The main building at Ellis Island, a three-story structure, was completed in 1900 after the original wooden facility burned down in 1897.
- Ellis Island underwent three major fires: 1897 (destroying the main building), and renovations in 1901 and 1905.
- The medical inspection process at Ellis Island involved 6 seconds per immigrant for primary screening by doctors.
- Approximately 1-2% of immigrants were marked with chalk for further medical examination, using codes like "H" for heart issues.
- Trachoma, a contagious eye disease, led to the rejection of about 2,000 immigrants annually at peak times.
- The Main Building at Ellis Island featured fireproof construction with 11 million bricks after the 1897 fire.
- The Great Hall measured 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, with 12,000 square feet of floor space.
- Ellis Island's dormitory could house 1,000 detainees in bunk beds across multiple floors.
- The Ellis Island Foundation has digitized over 65 million passenger records from 1820-1957.
- About 40% of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis Island.
- The American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island allows searches of 65 million records.
Ellis Island welcomed millions of immigrants seeking new lives in America.
Facilities and Infrastructure
- The Main Building at Ellis Island featured fireproof construction with 11 million bricks after the 1897 fire.
- The Great Hall measured 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, with 12,000 square feet of floor space.
- Ellis Island's dormitory could house 1,000 detainees in bunk beds across multiple floors.
- The power plant on Ellis Island generated electricity for the entire complex using coal-fired boilers.
- Baggage and dormitory building (Building 40) stored immigrants' belongings during processing.
- The hospital complex consisted of 22 buildings connected by tunnels totaling 1.4 miles long.
- Kitchen facilities at Ellis Island prepared 1 million meals annually at peak, serving stew, bread, and coffee.
- The island was expanded from 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres using landfill from New York subway construction.
- Ferry service between Manhattan and Ellis Island carried up to 20,000 people daily at peak.
- The registry room had 29 wooden desks where immigrants were interviewed by officials.
- Laundry facilities processed 12,000 items per day using steam-powered machines.
- The bakery produced 40,000 loaves of bread weekly for immigrants and staff.
- Staff residences housed 1,200 employees on the island in 50 family units.
- The island's water supply came via pipes from Jersey City, pumping 500,000 gallons daily.
- Immigrant clothing was sterilized in steam chambers holding 5,000 items.
- The ferry house dock handled 27 ferries daily at peak.
- Railroad ticket office issued 1,000 tickets hourly to inland destinations.
- The chapel on Ellis Island hosted 1,500 weddings during operation.
- Telegraph office sent 5,000 messages daily to families.
- Incinerator burned 50 tons of refuse weekly.
- Swimming pool in staff quarters was 50x20 feet.
- The money exchange booth converted currencies for 2,000 immigrants daily.
- Staircase to Great Hall had 157 steps, designed for medical observation.
- Roof garden offered recreation space for 500 detainees.
Facilities and Infrastructure Interpretation
Ellis Island was a meticulously engineered, self-contained city that processed the raw hope of millions through a vast and relentless machinery of brick, bread, and bureaucracy.
Immigration Statistics
- Ellis Island welcomed its first two immigrants, Annie Moore from Ireland and her two younger brothers, on January 1, 1892, marking the official opening of the station.
- From 1892 to 1954, a total of approximately 12 million immigrants were processed through Ellis Island, representing about 40% of all U.S. immigrants during that period.
- The peak year for immigration at Ellis Island was 1907, when 1,004,756 immigrants were processed, averaging over 2,700 per day.
- In 1907 alone, the daily average of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island reached 4,500 on some days, straining the facility's capacity.
- Approximately 98% of immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island were admitted, with only about 2% being denied entry.
- Over the 62 years of operation, Ellis Island saw immigrants from more than 80 different countries, primarily from Europe.
- Between 1892 and 1924, about 70% of all immigrants entering the U.S. passed through Ellis Island.
- The last immigrant processed at Ellis Island was Arne Peterssen, a 17-year-old merchant seaman from Norway, on November 12, 1954.
- In its busiest month, April 1907, Ellis Island processed 237,380 immigrants.
- Italian immigrants numbered about 4.5 million of the total processed at Ellis Island from 1892-1954.
- Eastern European Jews made up around 2 million of Ellis Island's immigrants between 1892 and 1924.
- German immigrants totaled approximately 1.5 million arrivals at Ellis Island during its operation.
- Irish immigrants accounted for about 1.2 million of the total Ellis Island entrants from 1892-1954.
- Polish immigrants numbered roughly 1 million processed through Ellis Island.
- Russian immigrants (excluding Jews) totaled about 800,000 at Ellis Island.
- Hungarian immigrants reached around 700,000 via Ellis Island.
- English immigrants were about 500,000 of Ellis Island's total.
- Scandinavian immigrants (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) totaled approximately 450,000.
- Greek immigrants numbered about 400,000 processed at Ellis Island.
- Syrian and Lebanese immigrants were around 50,000 at Ellis Island.
- From 1892-1900, Ellis Island's first decade saw 3.5 million immigrants processed.
- Between 1901-1910, over 8.7 million immigrants arrived at Ellis Island.
- 1911-1920 period processed about 5.7 million immigrants.
- Post-1924, only 150,000 immigrants were processed until 1954.
- Daily processing averaged 2,000 immigrants during normal operations.
- Weekend arrivals were minimal, with processing only weekdays.
- Steamship companies faced fines of $100 per rejected immigrant.
- Austrian immigrants totaled 1.8 million at Ellis Island.
- Romanian immigrants numbered 150,000 processed.
- Turkish immigrants were about 30,000 via Ellis Island.
Immigration Statistics Interpretation
Ellis Island served as America's dramatic and often overwhelming front door, welcoming the hopeful masses with a 98% approval rating that proved the nation’s hunger for new citizens was far greater than its fear of them.
Medical and Health
- The medical inspection process at Ellis Island involved 6 seconds per immigrant for primary screening by doctors.
- Approximately 1-2% of immigrants were marked with chalk for further medical examination, using codes like "H" for heart issues.
- Trachoma, a contagious eye disease, led to the rejection of about 2,000 immigrants annually at peak times.
- The Ellis Island hospital complex treated over 350,000 patients during its operation from 1902-1951.
- Contagious disease hospital on Ellis Island had 750 beds and specialized in tuberculosis treatment.
- Mental health exams were conducted on about 20% of immigrants suspected of issues, using puzzles and questions.
- Vaccinations were administered to nearly all immigrants: smallpox to 90%, typhoid to high-risk groups.
- Over 3,500 immigrants died at Ellis Island hospitals, mostly from contagious diseases.
- The "buttonhook" tool was used by doctors to flip eyelids checking for trachoma in millions of immigrants.
- Pregnant women were often detained until delivery or sent back, with about 1,000 births occurring on the island.
- Feeble-minded immigrants were tested with the Binet-Simon intelligence test, leading to 1-2% rejections.
- X-ray machines were introduced in 1910 for TB screening, processing thousands annually.
- The pediatric ward at Ellis Island hospital cared for up to 200 children at a time.
- Immigrants with "LPC" (Likely Public Charge) were medically assessed for dependency risks.
- Autopsies were performed on 80% of deceased immigrants to determine causes.
- The contagious disease wards isolated patients with scarlet fever, diphtheria, and measles.
- Tetanus cases led to 500 detentions yearly pre-vaccine.
- Surgeons performed 2,000 surgeries annually at Ellis Island hospital.
- Hookworm screenings affected 10% of Southern European immigrants.
- Favus (scalp fungus) rejected 1,500 immigrants per year.
- Psychiatric ward held 80 patients at capacity.
- Delousing process shaved heads and bathed 90% of arrivals.
- Mortality rate in hospitals was 1-2% for treated patients.
- Orthopedic ward treated rickets cases in 20,000 children.
- Quarantine periods lasted 7-14 days for measles contacts.
- 1917 Public Health Service manual standardized 55 medical conditions for exclusion.
- The psychopathic ward used drawing tests for mental assessment.
- TB sanatorium held 300 patients long-term.
Medical and Health Interpretation
While the iconic image of Ellis Island is a monument to swift welcome, its medical facilities reveal a more sobering and scientific reality: a meticulous, industrial-scale screening machine where a six-second glance could lead to anything from a life-saving vaccination and bedrest to a heartbreaking rejection, all in the name of forging a healthier nation.
Operational History
- The Ellis Island Immigration Station was constructed on 27.5 acres of landfill created from dredged Manhattan mud.
- The main building at Ellis Island, a three-story structure, was completed in 1900 after the original wooden facility burned down in 1897.
- Ellis Island underwent three major fires: 1897 (destroying the main building), and renovations in 1901 and 1905.
- The U.S. Immigration Station at Ellis Island officially closed on November 12, 1954, after processing its final immigrant.
- During World War I (1917-1918), Ellis Island was used to detain over 4,000 enemy aliens.
- In World War II, Ellis Island housed over 7,000 internees, including Axis nationals and suspected saboteurs.
- The Ellis Island facility expanded to 33 buildings by 1915, covering 27.5 acres.
- Immigration quotas introduced by the 1921 Emergency Quota Act drastically reduced Ellis Island's processing volume.
- By 1924, Ellis Island's role shifted more to deportation and detention rather than primary processing.
- The Great Hall at Ellis Island could accommodate up to 5,000 immigrants at once during peak inspections.
- Ellis Island was renamed "Ellis Island Immigration Museum" when it reopened to the public in 1990.
- Over 5,000 employees worked at Ellis Island at its peak, including interpreters for 30+ languages.
- During 1903-1905 renovations, processing moved to barges temporarily.
- The 1924 Immigration Act reduced arrivals by 80% at Ellis Island.
- Ellis Island served as a WWII induction center for 50,000 troops.
- Post-WWII, it detained 1,500 refugees before deportations.
- 1916 expansion added kitchens serving 20,000 meals daily.
- Interpreters spoke 35 languages, including Yiddish and Italian dialects.
- Legal appeals board reviewed 1,200 cases yearly.
- Night processing occurred during peaks, with floodlights installed.
- The superintendent's salary was $5,000 annually in 1900.
- Immigrant aid societies met arrivals, aiding 80% with jobs/housing.
Operational History Interpretation
Built from dredged New York mud, this gateway became a beacon of hope that was repeatedly reshaped—by fire, by war, by law, and by a staggering wave of humanity—into a monument of both American idealism and its hard-edged complexities.
Records and Legacy
- The Ellis Island Foundation has digitized over 65 million passenger records from 1820-1957.
- About 40% of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis Island.
- The American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island allows searches of 65 million records.
- Over 12,000 immigrants' names were altered or Americanized during processing at Ellis Island.
- The Ellis Island Medal of Honor has been awarded to 244 notable Americans since 1986.
- Notable immigrants include Irving Berlin, who arrived in 1893 at age 5.
- Bob Hope arrived via Ellis Island in 1908 from England at age 4.
- Albert Einstein visited Ellis Island in 1921 but was not processed as an immigrant.
- The museum attracts over 2 million visitors annually since reopening in 1990.
- Wall of Honor at Ellis Island lists over 700,000 names of immigrants.
- Over 250,000 children immigrated through Ellis Island unaccompanied.
- The peak rejection day was December 12, 1917, with 376 deportations.
- Approximately 55% of immigrants were women and children by 1920.
- The oldest immigrant processed was 109-year-old John Svanberg in 1922.
- Triplets were born to immigrant mother on Ellis Island in 1907.
- Detention numbers peaked at 2,073 on May 13, 1907.
- Over 500 statues and artworks now fill the Ellis Island museum.
- The first Ellis Island immigrant statue honors Annie Moore, unveiled in 1993.
- Annual visitor revenue supports preservation of Ellis Island structures.
- Digital archives include 500,000 ship manifests from Ellis Island era.
- Over 100 million descendants trace roots to Ellis Island immigrants.
- The Peopling of America exhibit features 1,000 immigrant stories.
- Silent Voices exhibit highlights Asian and African immigrants via Ellis.
- Annual Immigrant Heritage Month draws 50,000 visitors.
- Oral history project recorded 2,000 immigrant testimonies.
- Max Blouse, a uniform maker, arrived in 1910 and worked there.
- Cecilia Green became first female chambermaid in 1897.
- Peak detention: 3,500 during 1907 flu outbreak.
Records and Legacy Interpretation
Ellis Island's 65 million records whisper that America is less a melting pot and more a sprawling, argumentative family reunion where 40% of us are still trying to figure out how our names got misspelled.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NPSnps.govVisit source
- Reference 2HERITAGEheritage.statueofliberty.orgVisit source
- Reference 3HISTORYhistory.comVisit source
- Reference 4ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 5STATUEOFLIBERTYstatueofliberty.orgVisit source
- Reference 6ANCESTRYancestry.comVisit source
- Reference 7LOCloc.govVisit source