1. Ellis Island: A History Christina Durkee

2. Ellis Island

3. 1776 The Island was owned by Samuel Ellis, a New York merchant. Ellis’s heirs sold the island to the State of New York in 1808 who decided not to change the name.

4. 1890 The States turned over immigration to the Federal Government. Congress appropriated $75,000 to build the first Federal Immigration Station on Ellis Island Landfill was used to double the size of the island.

5. 1892 On January 1 the first Ellis Island Immigration Station opened. Annie Moore, 15, was the first immigrant to be processed on January 2 nd. 450,000 immigrants were processed in the first year

6. Passenger List Annie Moore 

7. 1897 On June 15 th a fire of unknown origin destroyed the station which had been made of Georgia Pine. There were no casualties but records dating from 1855 to the day of the fire were destroyed.

8. 1900 The present day Main Building was opened. It cost 1.5 million dollars to build and was designed to process up to 5,000 immigrants a day.

9. 1907 This was the peak year for immigration into the US. A total of 1,004,756 immigrants were received. April 17 had the highest daily total for the year at 11,747 being processed.

10. 1916 Explosions thought to be set by German saboteurs at Black Toms Wharf in New Jersey severely damaged the buildings at Ellis Island. The buildings were rebuilt again this time with the addition of a new barrel vaulted ceiling over the great hall designed by the Guastavino Brothers. Ellis Island Photo Album

11. 1917 US entered WWI in Europe. Ellis Island was used to detain crews from German merchant ships that were anchored in NY Harbor. Suspected enemy aliens were rounded up and brought to Ellis Island to be held.

12. 1918-1919 US Army and Navy took over the island to use as a way station and treatment center for returning sick and wounded Americans from the war. There was a sharp decline in immigration from 178,416 in 1915 to 28,867 in 1918.

13. 1920 to Present Although there was a resurgence in immigration following the war, the Immigration Act of 1924 did much to stem the tide of immigrants. The island was mainly used in the following years as a Coast Guard Station and then a detention center during the cold war.

14. 1920 to Present continued In 1976 Ellis Island was opened to the public. In 1984 the island underwent an extensive renovation and became a major tourist attraction.

15. Immigration Museum In December of 1990 the Ellis Island Immigration Museum was opened and has received over 20 million visitors to date.

16. Map of Ellis Island interior

17. References www.EllisIsland.org www.EllisIsland.com www.NPS.gov www.lowermanhattan.info