Ellis Island: The Immigrant Experience

It is believed that approximately 40 percent of America’s population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation’s premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, the station processed over 12 million immigrants. This course provides an overview of Ellis Island’s physical expansion while also looking at key aspects of the immigration process on the island during its time as an immigration station. We explore primary sources such as architectural drawings, immigration statistics, as well as ship manifests to enhance our understanding of the station’s history, social importance and role in U.S. history.