Ellis Island originated as an immigration station following the passing of the Immigration Act of 1891. Beginning in 1892, more than 12 million immigrants from various places had been processed before its end in 1954. At the immigration station, immigrants were screened to determine if they could enter the United States. First and second-class passengers on the ships were given inspections on the ship, for they were deemed sufficient enough not to cause problems. However, all other passengers including those who were ill were required to endure both mental and physical tests to weed out those deemed "unfit." Given the nickname, "Island of Tears," those who did not meet the standards were sent back to where they had arrived from. Processing for an immigrant typically took one to three days, and inspections approximated three to five hours. Over its sixty-two years of service, approximately ninety-eight percent of immigrants were allowed entry to the States, with the other two percent consisting primarily of those who were extremely ill or those with a criminal record. In 1914, the start of World War 1 caused a decrease in immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, which allowed for the structure to contain potential enemies. The Immigration Act of 1924 decreased the foot traffic even more, due to quotas put in place regarding who is allowed entry into the country. As if that wasn’t enough, World War II simply continued the lack of immigration and the containment of enemy nationals. Doubling as a Coast Guard training base, Ellis Island had served its time as the largest and busiest processing center and came to an end with the final processing of a man named Arne Peterssen. Today, more than forty percent of individuals in America can trace their family line back to an ancestor who was processed through Ellis Island.

The Ellis Island immigration station was, as the name says, an island that was conveniently located in an extremely accessible spot for a port. It was located within the New York Harbor, just off the coast of New Jersey. Not only did the clear view of the Statue of Liberty after a long voyage instill faith and hope in the immigrants, it marked an end to their painful journey. While there were many other ports, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to name a few, Ellis Island's location within the New York Harbor was a hotspot for steamship companies.

“Los Angeles Herald, Volume 26, Number 258, 15 June 1897 - Fire at Ellis Island [Article].” FIRE AT ELLIS ISLAND - Los Angeles Herald 15 June 1897 - California Digital Newspaper Collection,

“Closing the Door on Immigration (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

Island, Save Ellis. “Ellis Island’s History.” Save Ellis Island

Kellman, Steven G. “Ellis Island.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, Research Starters.