US Immigration History: Difference between revisions

Ellis Island was designated as the site for the new immigrant screen station in 1890 in part because Castle Garden could no longer handle the flow of immigrants.<ref>"The History of Ellis Island," ''GGD'' 45 (January 2006): 30-31.</ref> On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island opened in the New York Bay.<ref>Arbeiter, Nancy Levin. "The Port of New York Before Ellis Island". ''AVOTAYNU'' XXI (Fall 2005): 27-34.</ref> A fire broke out on June 15, 1897, destroying almost everything (including records). The island was closed until December 17, 1900 while it was being rebuilt. Ellis Island housed an immigrant receiving station, dormitories, hospitals, kitchens, a baggage station, an electrical plant, and a bath house.<ref>"The History of Ellis Island," ''GGD'' 45 (January 2006): 30-31.</ref> Ellis Island operated as the United States' official immigrant inspection station until 1954. The station was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants who entered into the United States.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ellis Island," ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island, accessed 8 August 2018.</ref>

Records from Ellis Island can be found at [https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger www.libertyellisfoundation.org]. Records (numbering around 51 million) range from 1820 to 1957.