Ellis Island
- Ellis Island first opened in 1892 and was closed in 1954. Between 1892 and 1954 over 12 million people entered the United States through Ellis Island.
- Ellis Island was and still is located in the upper part of New York Bay, off the coast of New Jersey, and right next to the Statue of Liberty.
- Upon arriving on Ellis Island, immigrants were inspected and had to answer 29 questions. On average, the inspection process took approximately 3-7 hours.
- For the vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island truly was an "Island of Hope" - the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in America. For the rest, it became the "Island of Tears" - a place where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into this country.
- Today, over 40% of America's population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. There is a monument on Ellis Island called the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, listing the names of all of the Immigrants that passed through.