
Ellis Island
New York travel would entail a lot of beautiful attractions in and around the city and one such place is the Ellis Island. The mouth of Hudson River is where this island sits pretty and falls within the jurisdiction and administration of the National Park Service.
The Island was earlier known as the Little Oyester Island and is supposed to have got its new name from that of a colonial New York resident Samuel Ellis.
Information on Ellis Island on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_island
The island first opened in the New Year of 1892 on 1st January. It functioned as the country's best immigration station until 1954 when operations stopped. It is said that till then the station processed the immigration of more than 12 million steam ship passengers.
For 30 years the building lay abandoned and in 1990 the main building opened up as a museum after restoration. More than 40% of today's Americans can trace their roots way back to the immigration from Ellis Island. A hospital was set up at the Ellis Island to check the immigrants for diseases. It was the largest marine hospital set up in the country at that point of time.
A point of contention for long has been whether the island is part of New York or New Jersey since a larger portion of the island falls in New Jersey. The total area of the island is 32 acres of which 5.23 acres of the natural island lies in New York. This area is surrounded by reclaimed land. Though the dispute between the 2 states continues, the island is the federal government's property and since 1965 is a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
Homepage of Ellis Island
http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm
New York travel has to have Ellis Island on the itinerary. It is said to be the most popular tourist spot in New York City. Although the place has stopped functioning as an immigration station it holds a special place in the hearts of the American citizens.
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27541848-ellis_island_new_york_city-i
Ellis Island Address
17 Battery Place #210
New York, NY 10004-3507
Contact:
Tel: (212) 561-4588
Email: historycenter@ellisisland.org
Website: http://www.ellisisland.org/
Have fun out there!

