The
Ellis Island Building
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Ellis Island History Facts for kids:
Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts about Ellis Island immigration center:
Location: New Jersey side of Upper New York
Bay,
U.S.
When did it open? January 1, 1892
When did it close? 12 November, 1954
Who was the first immigrant to be processed?
Annie Moore
How did it get its name? From a previous
owner, Samuel Ellis
How big is it? 27.5 acres
How many immigrants were processed? 15
Million
Ellis Island History Facts for kids
Interesting facts about the Ellis Island History Facts are detailed below. The history of
the Ellis Island History Facts is told in a factual sequence consisting of
a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the
history and events of the Ellis Island History Facts. For additional
information refer to the
Ellis Island
Immigration Process.
Ellis Island History
Facts for kids
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 1: It was originally a mud bank in Upper
New York Bay in the 1600's. The Native American Indians
called it Kioshk, or Gull Island, after the birds that
nested there. The Dutch settlers called it Oyster
Island, because of the surrounding oyster beds.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 2: In 1776, during the era of the
American Revolution, the Island was owned by New York
merchant, Samuel Ellis, who opened a small tavern on the
island that was used by local fisherman.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 3: The heirs of Samuel Ellis sold the
island to New York State in 1808. The same year, the
Federal Government bought "Ellis Island" for $10,000.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 4: There were no immigration laws until
1820 when the US federal government started to regulate
immigration by requiring each ship to submit a passenger
list. Passengers disembarked on any available dock
and they were not inspected or recorded.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 5: In 1834 the small isle (that served
as a weapons arsenal) and the neighboring Bedloe's
Island (renamed Liberty Island in 1956, site of the
Statue of
Liberty) were declared part of New York State
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 6: Immigration History: The States had
the responsibility of determining the admissibility of
immigrants. Up until 1855, passengers were allowed to
enter directly into New York City. New Yorkers started
to complain about the type of immigrant that was
entering their city and feared immigrants would become a
financial burden on the city.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 7: Immigration History: On 1 August,
1855 New York State established an immigration
processing station at Castle Garden off the tip of
Manhattan, called the Emigrant Landing Depot
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 8: In the 1880's residents of Manhattan,
Brooklyn and Jersey City were complaining about the
close proximately of the Ellis Island arsenal, fearing
explosion of the powder magazines.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 9: In the 1880's immigration to the
United States during the 1880s reached a staggering 5.2
million. In 1882 Congress passed the
Chinese Exclusion Act,
the first significant law to restrict immigration to the
United States of America. In 1890 the States
turned over control of immigration to the Federal
Government.
Ellis Island History Facts
Fact 10: In 1890 Congress made the decision to
build the first Federal immigration station on Ellis
Island. $75,000 dollars were spent on the project which
included doubling the size with landfill. The first
immigration center was opened on January 1, 1892 but was
destroyed by fire on June 15, 1897.
The Statue of
Liberty became the iconic landmark for all European
immigrants on the last leg of their journey from Europe
to
Ellis Island
and a new life in the United States of America.
 Continued...
Ellis Island History
Facts for kids
Ellis Island History Facts
for kids:
US Immigration Laws
The article on
US
Immigration Laws History provides facts,
immigration statistics and a timeline from 1800's to
the present.
Ellis Island History Facts for kids
Interesting facts about the Ellis Island History Facts are continued below.
Ellis Island
History Facts for kids
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 11:
The picture shows the
first building to house the Immigrant Center,
which was opened on January 1, 1892.
Annie Moore, a 15
year old girl from County Cork in Ireland was the first
to enter the first wooden immigration building on
January 2, 1892. She was presented with a $10 gold piece
to commemorate her role in U.S. history.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 12:
The Immigrant Center,
which was opened on January 1, 1892, was
built of wood and was completely destroyed
by fire on June 15, 1897.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 13:
It is estimated that 1.5
million immigrants were processed at the
first wooden building during its 5 years of
use. Most of the immigration records, dating
from 1855, were destroyed in the fire.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 14:
Temporary Immigration
Center: After the fire, from April 19, 1890
- December 31, 1891, the old Barge Office on
the Battery, Manhattan, New York was used as
a temporary immigration station whilst a new
immigration building was built.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 15:
The second immigration
building opened on January 1, 1902 and still
stands today, it was one of the first
fireproof buildings ever constructed.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 16:
The Main Building is
built of red brick with limestone trim in a
French Renaissance design. The Great Hall
was 200 feet long and 102 feet wide. The
second building cost nearly $1.5 million
dollars and was designed to process the
5,000 immigrants entering the Great Hall
every day.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 17:
Over the following years
Ellis Island continued to grow in size and
the buildings consisted of 33 structures. It
was originally one island of only 3 1/2
acres. It developed into three islands of
about 27.5 acres.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 18:
In 1908 the Baggage and
Dormitory Building was completed and the
hospital was enlarged. A dining room for
1,000 people was built on the top floor of
the kitchen and laundry Building.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 19:
Immigration Process:
Immigrants were subjected to medical and
legal examinations during the Immigration
Process. In 1910 the
Angel Island Immigration Station opened.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 20:
On July 30, 1916 New York
harbor was rocked by the
Black Tom Explosion (caused by saboteurs
during WW1) and immigrants at
the Ellis Island immigration center
had to be evacuated to lower Manhattan.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 21:
In November 1954 Ellis
Island was closed and most would-be US
citizens were free to enter the country
without inspection on arrival. More than 15
million immigrants had passed through its
doors.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 22:
In 1965 President Lyndon
Johnson declared Ellis Island a national
monument.
Ellis Island History Facts Fact 23:
The Statue of
Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation completed a
major restoration program and the building
was opened in September 1990 as an
immigration museum and now receives almost
two million visitors a year.
The photograph of
the Statue of Liberty was taken in 1917.
Ellis Island
History Facts for kids
Ellis Island History Facts for kids: Immigration Acts
Congress passed the
Immigration Act of 1882 which was the first
comprehensive immigration law to restrict immigrants from Europe.
This was followed by the Immigration Act of 1891 which regulated
immigration even further.
Push
and Pull Factors
For visitors interested in the subject of immigration
refer to our website on
Push and Pull Factors of
Immigration which provides details of why people left their
homes in various countries and moved to the United States.
Ellis Island History Facts for kids - President
Benjamin Harrison Video
The article on the
Ellis Island History provides detailed facts and a summary of one of
the important events during his presidential term in office. The
following Benjamin Harrison video will give you additional important
facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 23rd
American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1889 to
March 4, 1893.
Ellis Island History Facts
● Interesting info with the Ellis Island
History Facts for kids and schools
● Summary of the Ellis Island History in
US history
● The Ellis Island History Facts, a major
event in US history
● Benjamin Harrison Presidency from March
4, 1889 to March 4, 1893
● Fast, fun, interesting facts about the
Ellis Island History Facts
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President
Benjamin Harrison
● Benjamin Harrison Presidency and Ellis
Island History Facts for schools, homework,
kids and children |
