The Immigration Act of 1891 granted the federal government the sole authority to admit or deny immigrants to the United States. With this new authority, the government opened the immigration station on Ellis Island in the New York Harbor in 1892. After their arrival to the island, third class passengers were processed at the station. They underwent medical and legal inspections. This process could take 3-5 hours. Thousands of immigrants were processed each day during the busiest years.
Ellis Island immigrant building. Retrieved from the New York Public Library.
The original immigration station c. 1892-1897. Retrieved from the National Archives.
A view of the front facade, Immigration Station, Ellis Island. Retrieved from the New York Public Library Digital Collection.
Retrieved from libertyellisfoundation.org.
Inspection room, Ellis Island, ca. 1910-1920.Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Immigrants seated on long benches, Main Hall, U.S. Immigration Station. Retrieved from the New York Public Library Digital Collection.
“Emigrants in “pens” at Ellis Island, New York, probably on or near Christmas,” ca. 1906. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
“Ready for travel and going north, south and west. Immigrants with baggage lined up at teller’s windows marked money exchange.” Retrieved from the New York Public Library Digital Collection.
“Immigration officers examining documents and immigrants at Ellis Island Immigration Station“, 1902. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Ellis Island, New York Harbor, New York County, NY. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.), 18 June 1897. Chronicling America. Historic American Newspapers. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Medicine on Ellis Island 