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Ellis Island Closed Until Further Notice
As of June 2013: Due to the conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will be closed until further notice. A projected reopening date has not yet been established, follow our twitter account for updates. More »
History of Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954
A roof cap from the pavilion of the corridor in between the Kitchen and Laundry Building and the Powerhouse/Ferry Building National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM The history and use of Ellis Island as an immigration station and hospital from 1892 to 1954 During rehabilitation of the architectural structures on Ellis Island, actual building components, such as the decorative copper flashing and drainage downspout, that are unique to the site or a time period are collected when the features have both interpretive, exhibit value and use as the template for future restoration or reconstruction of buildings. 
Downspout c. 1930-1939
National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
A pill bottle for the Public Health Service hospital, c. 1950 National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM Attention is also given to the administrative history and official daily activities of Ellis Island when it was in operation as an immigration station focusing on the public health, medical and legal inspection policy for immigrants conducted by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the United States Public Health Service. Public Health Service work on the Ellis Island is represented in the museum collection by items such as plates and medicine bottles found on site in the hospital buildings. 
A plate used by Food Services on Ellis Island
National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
Some of the medical personnel employed on the island gave oral histories, diaries and photographs to the museum and this material is available for research in the museum archives and museum collection. 
A nurse, outside of the contagious disease ward, with some patients
National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
A United States Immigration Service inspector's hat National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM Immigration processing on Ellis Island left an indelible mark on all immigrants, from their arrival to, hopefully, their departure from the island to new lives in the United States. An attempt is made for the museum to acquire artifacts that were associated with this process. Immigration Service uniforms, Inspection Cards and literacy test cards developed in response to the 1917 Immigration (Literacy) Act tell the story of the history of the immigrant experience on Ellis Island. 
An inspection card from the S.S. Antonia, February 5, 1925
National park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
A literacy test card from the United States Government Printing Office, c. 1920s
National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
Immigration processing on Ellis Island went into decline after the passage of the 1924 Quota Act which imposed strict laws on immigration. The work done on Ellis Island after this Act focused more on detaining and the deportation of people from the United States. 
A sign displayed on Ellis Island
National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM
Graffiti drawn on the plaster walls of Ellis Island National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM People held in detention throughout the history of Ellis Island often expressed their feelings by writing on the walls of their rooms. Some of this graffiti is preserved and documented in the museum collection. |
Did You Know?
Although most immigrants processed at Ellis Island stayed between three and five hours, about 20% stayed overnight in dormitory rooms until their cases could be cleared. Many immigrants found these accommodations a big improvement over the severe conditions of traveling to America in "steerage".