Island of Hopes or Island of Tears? ELLIS ISLAND

12,000,000 Ellis Island is located just south of Manhattan in New York Harbor. It was the gateway for more than twelve million immigrants coming to the United States between 1892 and 1954. 12,000,000

Steamships like the one pictured above carried immigrants to new hopes and dreams in the United States. They left their native countries in order to have religious freedom, freedom of speech, or better economic opportunities.

to carry the immigrants to Ellis The Statue of Liberty stood in the harbor to welcome the weary travelers. Ferries met the ships to carry the immigrants to Ellis Island for processing before they would be permitted to enter the United States.

Before leaving the steamships to board the ferries, each immigrant had numbered tags pinned to their clothing. These tags displayed two numbers indicating the ship’s manifest page and line number on which his or her name was recorded. These numbers would later be used by the inspectors on Ellis Island to question each immigrant.

Once the immigrants left the ferries they found themselves in very long lines. While standing in line, doctors and inspectors scanned them for illnesses. Often, children were asked their names to see if they could talk and hear. As the line continued to move, doctors examined each one for a variety of illnesses, disabilities, or physical conditions.

inspectors were “the buttonhook men” who checked under the One of the most dreaded inspectors were “the buttonhook men” who checked under the eyelid for a very contagious eye disease. Those who appeared sick were marked with blue chalk on their clothing. Another doctor would check them to decide if they could go to the Ellis Island Hospital for treatment or be sent back to the steamship to return to the country they had left. Many families were separated because one member of the family had an illness.

X ====> feeble minds For example: Using the blue chalk, the inspectors developed a letter code to represent several reasons for further inspection. There were 17 different marks used in the code. Pg ====> pregnant K ====> hernia Ft ====> feet X ====> feeble minds For example:

questioned individually. Information from the numbered tags on If the immigrants passed all levels of the inspection line, they were sent to the Registry Hall to be questioned individually. Information from the numbered tags on their clothing was used to record personal information.

The inspector asked them their age, occupation, marital status, and destination. Immigrants also had to pass a literacy exam where they had to read passages from the Bible. In 1912, a law was passed that each man, woman, and child entering the United States had to have at least 20 dollars to start off their life in America. This is about $400.00 today.If all went well, the immigrant was cleared to enter the United States. If not, they could ask for a hearing before a special Board of Inquiry.

After completion of successful inspection, the immigrants left the Registry Hall to go down the “Stairs of Separation” to begin their journey through the gateway to a new life as an American. Many immigrants changed their names to make them more Americanized or because the inspectors misspelled the names.

When the When the Department of Immigration Services was transferred to Manhattan, Ellis Island closed in 1954.President Ronald Reagan began a campaign to raise funds to restore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in 1982. After completion of restoration eight years later, Ellis Island was reopened as a museum.