Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Ellis Island is the symbol of America's immigrant heritage. From 1892 to
1954, it was the arrival point for over 12 million people fleeing religious
persecution, poverty, or unrest in their homelands. Their descendants, more
than 100 million people, comprise almost 40 percent of today's population.
First and second class passengers were processed for immigration on board
ship, but the poor traveling in steerage class were ferried to the crowded
island for medical and legal examinations. It was a frightening prospect after
an exhausting journey to a land where few newcomers could speak the
language. As many as 5,000 passed through in a day. The museum not only
retraces their experience here, but is a picture of the
total immigrant experience in America.
Top 10 Features
1 Arrival Area
2 Great Hall
3 Medical Examining Line
4 Dormitory
5 Railroad Ticket Office
6 Baggage Room
7 The Peopling of America
8 Immigration History Center
9 American Immigration
Wall of Honor
0 Immigrants' Living Theater
The vast interior of the
Great Hall
The island's cafeteria
and picnic areas are
great for lunch or
snacks.
Catch an early ferry
from Battery Park to
avoid crowds on the
island.
Arrival Area
Crowds of steerage
passengers
(below)
entered
through the original gateway
here after being ferried from
arrival vessels. Instructions
were given by interpreters
in a babel of languages.
Stop at the museum
information desk for
tickets to the free
30-minute film
“Island of Hope,
Island of Tears."
Great Hall
Huddled on benches,
immigrants awaited exam-
inations that would deter-
mine whether they would
be granted entry. A doctor
watched as they ascended
the stairs and marked let-
ters in chalk on those who
showed signs of conditions
needing special inspection.
• For a map of Ellis
Island see Lower
Manhattan to Midtown
inset on p6
• 212 363 3200
• www.nps.gov/elis
• Ferries from Battery
Park: 212 269 5755
• Ferry rides to Statue
of Liberty and Ellis
Island: adults $10,
seniors $8, children
(4-12) $4, children
under 4 free
• Open 8:30am-5:15pm
daily
• Free
Medical Examining Line
Interpreters guided immigrants through their medical
examinations. The most dreaded were the “eye men,”
looking for symptoms of trachoma, a disease that
caused blindness. It was the reason for more than half
the medical detentions and meant sure deportation.
18
For more on New York's history
See pp48-9
