Ellis Island is perhaps a one-in-the-world island which signifies immigration into any country. The Island was witness to a huge number of immigrants, most of whom were lucky to gain access to the country through the portal, especially between 1892 and 1954.

Ferry services from Manhattan or the Liberty State park will take you to the island. According to records, around 12 million immigrants were cleared by officials at the Island to enter the country.

Ellis Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum attracts a lot of people from around the world and also the country. It is a part of the larger package of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

The Museum was primarily built to give the visitors a feel of the whole immigration experience. This is the place through where many know their forefathers entered the country, with hopes and struggles.

This museum was witness to probably the largest human migration in the world, over a period of 60-odd years.

Immigration clearance before that took place at a bay in Manhattan.

The Island and museum is filled with landmarks signifying different emotions of the immigrants. For instance, the 'Kissing Post' as the meeting point of new immigrants and their relatives who were already in.

The hall, where the immigrants spend the nights before clearance, had burned down in 1897. In 1900, the main building was constructed and the Immigration Museum is inside it.

There are many tours in New York City which will guide you through the museum and explain facts about the various items and also the preservation of several points.

Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search

http://www.ellisisland.org/

Ellis Island National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_ellis.htm

Ellis Island Immigration Museum - Essential information

http://gonyc.about.com/cs/attractions/p/ellisisland.htm

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.