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the first immigrant was annie moore a 15 years-old irish girl -
between 1892 and 1954 ellis island was the busiest immigration station in the united state
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First and second-class passengers could enter the country after a brief inspection, but third-class passengers had to take a ferry to Ellis Island for further processing. Here they had to undergo a quick medical check-up in the Great Hall and answer 29 questions. -
While during the 19" century immigrants mostly came from Ireland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries,
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These included Jews escaping from political and economic oppression in Russia and eastern Europe and Italians escaping poverty in their country, but also Hungarians, Poles, Czechs, Serbs, Greeks, Turks, Arabs and Armenians.
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In 1954 the US government finally closed down the immigration inspection port at Ellis Island. -
After two decades of disuse, it opened up for tours in 1976. Following some major restoration work, the island today stands as a symbol of America's immigrant heritage that attracts over 2 million visitors a year.