The United States has always been a country where millions of people wish to live. Each year, many people immigrate to our country from a variety of different countries. In 2016 alone, 1.18 million immigrants came legally to the U.S. Yet one location stands out as a symbol of immigration in the United States — Ellis Island. The island is located on the upper bay off the coast of New Jersey, slightly in the shadow of the legendary Statue of Liberty. Many people don’t know much about Ellis Island or how it became so well known for immigrants coming to America. Ellis Island was much more than just a hub for immigration and has more history behind it than most people know.
Before it was used for immigration purposes, Ellis Island was owned by a man named Samuel Ellis. Samuel Ellis owned the private island in the 1770s, and when he died, the island assumed different purposes. The island was even called different names like Gull Island or Kiosk. For a long time, Ellis Island was used for military purposes. The island was mostly used for storing military weapons and whatever else the military needed it for. It was only after 1892 that the island was used for immigration purposes.
Since 1892, Ellis Island has had its gates open to foreigners looking for a new home or seeking asylum from their native countries. The highest influx of immigrants into the United States via the island was from 1900 to 1914. People came from all over Europe, Asia, Africa and many other countries, passing through Ellis Island on their way to a new life. 1907 was the year with the highest number of immigrants coming in through the island. In that year alone, almost two million immigrants traveled to Ellis Island— a record that was held for at least 80 years. However, there were moments in history when immigration through Ellis Island was not as popular. When the United States joined World War II, the levels of immigration decreased significantly.
The reigning success of the island as a safe place for immigrants to land did not last forever. Ellis Island closed its doors to immigrants on Nov. 12, 1954. This doesn’t mean that all history is lost forever though. There are many museums with exhibits about the historical island, and one museum on the island itself. The impact that this one island had on millions of people in America can not be described in words. The United States has always been a symbol of freedom and liberty, not only to us as Americans but also to those who risked everything to be here. Ellis Island is the perfect personification of this and standing in front of it is the best symbol that we have, the Statue of Liberty. Ellis Island will forever be in our history as one of the most impactful places of our country.
Photo: E. Castillo
