Historical Significance of Ellis Island

Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States through the Ellis Island processing station in New York harbor. To these immigrants, Ellis Island was a symbol of the American dream—once they passed through its gates, they could start a new life with opportunities that were not available to them in their countries of origin.

Today, roughly one-third of our country’s population is descended from those who were processed at Ellis Island, and the facility is now a museum dedicated to American immigration.