A Brief Intro of Ellis Island: Open the Door to Millions of Immigrants to America

Ellis Island is a famous port known for harboring immigrants into the United States. It is located in the state of New Jersey, in the Upper New York bay, east of Liberty Island. The island covers an area of approximately 32 acres according to the information provided by the United States Census Bureau. The Ellis Island is a historic place when it comes to immigration. The island serves as an immigration station regulating access into the United States.

Ellis Island on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island

Immigration History of Ellis Island

http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Eihist.html

The island was initially opened to allow war refugees and displaced persons into the country. Today, this is not the case because millions of people are entering the country irrespective of their status. Many people who want to trace their origin are able to do so particularly when there is evidence of immigration history in the family. The information provided by the Ellis Island offices is beneficial because we are able to know some great people who were immigrants as well as American travellers, for example Sigmund Freud who was a well known physician and Barbara West, a Titanic Survivor and so on.

Ellis Island Official Website

http://www.ellisisland.org/

Historical Information on Ellis Island

http://sydaby.eget.net/swe/ellis_island.htm

People from all over the world wanted to come to America. They saw it as the land of dreams, hope and opportunity. Other reasons that made people come to America were: epidermic diseases, food shortages, war and civil strife. The entrance of immigrants into the country stirred up mixed reactions; some people saw the opportunity of hiring cheap labor while others considered them as parasites.

The Ellis Island is an important American symbol that depicts America as the land of opportunities and dreams. The island is also a major tourist attraction site that has an immigration museum house. The museum has various portraits of people who have made great contributions to United States development.