• Immigrants awaiting inspection in front of Ellis Island's Main Building

    Ellis Island

    Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument NJ,NY

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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 »

The "Peopling of America" exhibit

Immigrants Standing in the Railroad Ticketing Office
Ellis Island Railroad Ticketing Office 1902-1913
New York Public Library - Public Domain
 
Peopling of America exhibits

Exhibit panels in the new Peopling of America exhibit

nps photo - v. scott

Phase 1 of the updated "Journeys: The Peopling of America" exhibit opened in late October 2011. This exhibit, occupying the former "Railroad Ticketing Office" on the first floor of Ellis Island's Main Building, explores immigration to this land from the 17th century to 1892, when Ellis Island opened as America's first federal immigration station. Themes such as "Leaving", "Struggle and Survival", and "Building A Nation" are touched upon in graphic panels and through first-person stories.

The second phase of this expanded exhibit, scheduled to open in 2013, will discuss immigration after Ellis' closure in 1954, and bring this story up to the present day.

Did You Know?

Great Hall circa 1900

In its time, Ellis Island was the busiest federal immigration station in America. In 1907, Ellis Island processed 1,004,756 immigrants, a record number for the Immigration stations. April 17, 1907 was the Island's busiest day, when 11,747 immigrants were processed. Today, the US Customs and Border Protection processes over 700,000 visitors daily through 326 official Ports of Entry. More...