1. Ellis Island Immigration Station

2. Immigration Station Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor
It opened in 1892 and closed in 1954
The immigration station processed over 12 million immigrants coming to the US
Over 40% of all Americans can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island

3. Stop 1: The Baggage Room
Immigrants entered the main building with their trunks, suitcases and baskets.
These were left in the baggage room, while immigrants went on to be processed.
Immigrants climbed the stairs to the Great Hall for processing.

4. Stop 2: Stairways to the Great Hall
Doctors stood on top of the stairs and watched the new arrivals climb the stairs.
This was called the 6 second medical exam.
Doctors who suspected medical problems put a mark on the immigrants clothes and he or she was sent for a full medical exam.

5. Stop 3: Medical Exam
By 1917 all immigrants had to take a full medical exam.
The doctors were looking for contagious diseases.
If a person had a curable illness they were sent to the island hospital.
Immigrants with incurable illnesses were sent back home to their country of origin.

6. Stop 4: The Great Hall The Great Hall was a waiting area.
Immigrants lined up for legal examinations.
It usually took 3 to 5 hours to process an immigrant.
However, immigrants with medical or legal problems might be detained for days or weeks.
Most made it through in a day.

7. Stop 5: Legal Inspection
Immigrants had to prove that they could legally come to the US.
They had to prove their country of origin and that they didn’t have criminal record.
In 1921 immigrants had to pass a literacy test and show a passport and visa

8. Stop 6: Money Exchange
At the money exchange station immigrants turned in their home country’s currency for dollars.
Immigrants were required to have $20
They could also purchase train tickets they needed

9. Stop 7: The Kissing Post
At the journey’s end was the kissing post,named for the emotional reunions that new immigrants had with family and friends.
Two thirds of the immigrants boarded a ferry for New Jersey, while the other third went to New York City, only one mile away.

10. Credits Slideshow by Dave Forrest
Photos and information from Scholastic’s Interactive Tour of Ellis Island
Background photo by Dave Forrest

11. Boat

12. Welcome

13. Citizenship

14. Welcome

16. NATIVISM: “native born” feared and resented new immigrants