Ellis Island Immigration Station Immigration Station Ellis Island

Ellis Island Immigration Station

Immigration Station • Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor • It opened in 1892 and closed in 1954 • The immigration station processed over 12 million immigrants coming to the US • Over 40% of all Americans can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island

Stop 1: The Baggage Room • Immigrants entered the main building with their trunks, suitcases and baskets. • These were left in the baggage room, while immigrants went on to be processed. • Immigrants climbed the stairs to the Great Hall for processing.

Stop 2: Stairways to the Great Hall • Doctors stood on top of the stairs and watched the new arrivals climb the stairs. • This was called the 6 second medical exam. • Doctors who suspected medical problems put a mark on the immigrants clothes and he or she was sent for a full medical exam.

Stop 3: Medical Exam • By 1917 all immigrants had to take a full medical exam. • The doctors were looking for contagious diseases. • If a person had a curable illness they were sent to the island hospital. • Immigrants with incurable illnesses were sent back home to their country of origin.

Stop 4: The Great Hall • The Great Hall was a waiting area. • Immigrants lined up for legal examinations. • It usually took 3 to 5 hours to process an immigrant. • However, immigrants with medical or legal problems might be detained for days or weeks. • Most made it through in a day.

Stop 5: Legal Inspection • Immigrants had to prove that they could legally come to the US. • They had to prove their country of origin and that they didn’t have criminal record. • In 1921 immigrants had to pass a literacy test and show a passport and visa

Stop 6: Money Exchange • At the money exchange station immigrants turned in their home country’s currency for dollars. • Immigrants were required to have $20 • They could also purchase train tickets they needed

Stop 7: The Kissing Post • At the journey’s end was the kissing post, named for the emotional reunions that new immigrants had with family and friends. • Two thirds of the immigrants boarded a ferry for New Jersey, while the other third went to New York City, only one mile away. •

Credits • Slideshow by Dave Forrest • Photos and information from Scholastic’s Interactive Tour of Ellis Island • http: //teacher. scholastic. com/activities/immi gration/tour/index. htm • Background photo by Dave Forrest

Boat

Welcome

Citizenship

Welcome

NATIVISM: “native born” feared and resented new immigrants