History of Ellis Isle Ellis Isle was America's largest immigration station, it opened in 1892. Ellis Isle was used for many purposes over the last century, an immigration processing office, a detainment camp during WWII as well as a training facility, as well as a museum.
Did you know, Ellis Isle was originally only 3.3 acres, but was filled with dirt and stone from the excavation of the New York City subways to make it a total area of 27.5 acres to house the immigration station. The immigration processing station first opened in 1892 and processed almost 450,000 immigrants in its first year. But then tragedy struck on June 15, 1897, as a huge fire burned the building to the ground, destroying hundreds, possibly thousands, of immigration records, …show more content…
United States embassies were established in countries all over the world, and prospective immigrants now applied for their visas at American consulates in their countries of origin. The necessary paperwork was completed at the consulate and a medical inspection was also conducted there. After 1924, the only people who were detained at Ellis Island were those who had problems with their paperwork, as well as war refugees and displaced persons. Ellis Island still remained open for many years and served a multitude of purposes. During World War II, enemy merchant seamen were detained in the baggage and dormitory building. The United States Coast Guard also trained about 60,000 servicemen there. In November of 1954, the last detainee, a Norwegian merchant seaman named Arne Peterssen, was released, and Ellis Island officially closed. Until 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson declared Ellis Isle part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Ellis Isle was opened to the public on a limited basis between 1976 and 1984. Starting in 1984, Ellis Isle underwent a major restoration, the largest historic restoration in U.S. history. The $160 million dollar project was funded by donations made to The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Isle Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the National Park Service. The Main Building was reopened to the public on September 10, 1990, as the Ellis Isle Immigration Museum. The
Did you know, Ellis Isle was originally only 3.3 acres, but was filled with dirt and stone from the excavation of the New York City subways to make it a total area of 27.5 acres to house the immigration station. The immigration processing station first opened in 1892 and processed almost 450,000 immigrants in its first year. But then tragedy struck on June 15, 1897, as a huge fire burned the building to the ground, destroying hundreds, possibly thousands, of immigration records, …show more content…
United States embassies were established in countries all over the world, and prospective immigrants now applied for their visas at American consulates in their countries of origin. The necessary paperwork was completed at the consulate and a medical inspection was also conducted there. After 1924, the only people who were detained at Ellis Island were those who had problems with their paperwork, as well as war refugees and displaced persons. Ellis Island still remained open for many years and served a multitude of purposes. During World War II, enemy merchant seamen were detained in the baggage and dormitory building. The United States Coast Guard also trained about 60,000 servicemen there. In November of 1954, the last detainee, a Norwegian merchant seaman named Arne Peterssen, was released, and Ellis Island officially closed. Until 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson declared Ellis Isle part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Ellis Isle was opened to the public on a limited basis between 1976 and 1984. Starting in 1984, Ellis Isle underwent a major restoration, the largest historic restoration in U.S. history. The $160 million dollar project was funded by donations made to The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Isle Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the National Park Service. The Main Building was reopened to the public on September 10, 1990, as the Ellis Isle Immigration Museum. The