Want to explore this topic in person? The National Park System includes more than 400 national parks and many other sites the National Park Service assists in managing. Many of these places tell the story of immigrants’ experiences throughout the history of the United States. Visit national parks and related areas in person to explore the complex history of immigration and the lives of those coming to build a new life in a new country.
The places below are a few that offer a first-hand opportunity to discover more stories, people, and sites about immigration history in the National Park System.
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massachussettsBoston National Historical ParkImmigrants, from China to Italy and more, have played a unique role in shaping the city.
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New YorkCastle Clinton National MonumentMore than 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden between 1855 and 1890.
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IdahoCity of Rocks National ReserveMany people, including immigrants, traveling on the California Trail camped at the City of Rocks, some leaving their names on the rocks.
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New YorkEllis Island (Statue of Liberty NM)At one point, Ellis Island was America's largest and most active immigration station where over 12 million immigrants were processed.
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CaliforniaGolden State National Recreation AreaImmigrants from many countries helped shape the landscape of San Francisco and California.
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nebraskaHomestead National Historical ParkPart of the Homestead Act encouraged people from other countries to settle the West.
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louisianaJean Lafitte NHP&PPeople from different ethnic groups, languages, and religions came to the Lower Mississippi River Delta and created a vibrant culture.
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californiaJohn Muir National Historic SiteJohn Muir, a Scottish immigrant, became America’s most famous conservationist and fueled the formation of the National Park Service.
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arizona, californiaJuan Bautista de Anza NHTAn ethnically diverse mix of Native American, European, and African heritage colonists joined the 1775-1776 Anza Expedition.
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michiganKeweenaw National Historical ParkFor 7,000 years people have mined Keweenaw copper, including Native peoples and immigrants, adding a rich cultural diversity to the area.
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alaskaKlondike Gold Rush NHPThe Klondike Gold Rush created a collision of cultures as people from at least 33 countries passed through Alaska to Canada.
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washingtonKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit NHPAs a result of the Klondike Gold Rush, some 30,000 to 40,000 people from different places came to Seattle in the late 1890s.
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MassachusettsLowell National Historical ParkMany immigrant families came to work at the textile mills and the park continues to celebrate the rich diversity of the area today.
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californiaManzanar National Historic SiteOne of ten camps where Japanese immigrants ineligible for citizenship and Japanese American citizens where incarcerated during WWII.
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MassachusettsNew Bedford Whaling NHPQuaker merchants built up New Bedford with their wealth and whaling expertise. Quakers fled England in large numbers in the 1600s.
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MI, MN, ND, NY, OH, PA, VT, WINorth Country National Scenic TrailThe human presence in the area extends back ten thousand years and includes Native Americans, French, Dutch and English colonists.
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californiaPinnacles National ParkThe Spanish missionaries and early settlers had a dramatic impact on the Native Americans who frequented Pinnacles.
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michiganRiver Raisin National Battlefield ParkAfter the War of 1812, people of different cultures started populating the area during the period of westward expansion.
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massachussettsSalem Maritime National Historic SiteImmigrants in the late 19th century were drawn by the opportunity for work in the cotton mills and other factories in the area.
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californiaSan Francisco Maritime NHPThe park celebrates the contributions and illuminates the struggles of immigrant laborers at sea and on the waterfront.
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puerto ricoSan Juan National Historic SiteCountries fought for control of this tiny yet strategic island for centuries. Generations of soldiers have lived and worked within the forts
Last updated: May 5, 2022