Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the nation’s busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. Millions of newly arrived immigrants passed through the station during that time–in fact, it has been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island.

Below are some photographs and a film from the time it served as America’s gateway ( from the Library of Congress).  Thomas Edison also filmed several arrivals, one on July 24, 1903  and another on April 27, 1906.

Ellis island, March 7, 1917 by Bain News Service

 

Ellis Island ca. 1900 by Bain News Service

Ellis Island, no date, by Bain News Service

Ellis Island ca. 1900 by Bain News Service

Ellis Island ca. 1910 by George Grantham Bain

Emigrants coming up the board-walk from the barge, which has taken them off the steamship company’s docks, and transported them to Ellis Island. The big building in the background is the new hospital just opened. The ferry-boat seen in the middle of the picture, runs from New York to Ellis Island. 1902

Immigration officers examining documents and immigrants at Ellis Island Immigration Station for final discharge ca. 1902

Photograph shows a man waiting, with others in queue behind him, at the registration desk in the immigration station on Ellis Island; an immigration official is seated at the desk. ca. 1907-1917

New York, Ellis Island between 1918-1920

Arriving at Ellis Island 1907

New York. Ellis Island between 1909-1932

New York. Ellis Island between 1909-1932

Awaiting examination, Ellis Island between 1907-1921

Dock with immigrants in foreground. between 1909-1932

Taft party, Ellis Island N.Y. Oct 18, 1910 Bain News Service

Boat unloading immigrants at Ellis Island, New York harbor Keystone View Co. 1928

Immigrants – Ellis Island between 1907-1917

Exam, Ellis Island, ca. 1909 Bain News Service

Dutch family, Ellis Island ca. 1909 Bain News Service

Dutch family, Ellis Island ca. 1900 Bain News Service 

Immigrants carrying luggage Bain News Service

Two emigrants on the seashore by Underwood and Underwood 1912

 Ellis Island ca. 1900 Bain News Service

Ellis Island, N.Y. – immigrants from “Princess Irene

“Princess Irene” Ashore

Immigrants from PRINZESS IRENE boarding ferry to take them to Ellis Island

 Held at Ellis Island–undesirable emigrants to be taken back by steamship company that brought them

  Detention pen–on roof of main building, Ellis Island, where emigrants held for deportation may go in fine weather 1902

Part of a group of 171 aliens illegally in the country wave goodby to the Statue of Liberty from the Coast Guard cutter that took them from Ellis Island to the Home Lines ship Argentina in Hoboken for deportation / World Telegram & Sun photo by Al Ravenna.

 

The following video describes and explains what the immigrants had to do when they arrived at Ellis Island.

Discordance: The Cottinghams (Volume 1) – A novel inspired by the experiences of the Cottingham family who immigrated from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Alabama

Filled with drama, suspense, humor, and romance, DISCORDANCE continues the family saga from the Tapestry of Love series with the children of Mary Dixon who married Thomas Cottingham.

Inspired by true events and the Cottingham family that resided in 17^th century Somerset, Maryland and Delaware, colonial America comes alive with pirate attacks, religious discord, and governmental disagreements in the pre-Revolutionary War days of America.