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The History of Ellis Island - The Island of Hope and Tears

"Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses." Join us for a history talk and Q&A with Historian Paul Rose on the topic of Ellis Island.

Ellis Island, located in the New York Harbor, once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States.

"From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island was America's largest and most active immigration station, where over 12 million immigrants were processed. 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 the United States." - The National Parks Service

Paul Rose is a researcher at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum but is not acting a representative of the institution in this presentation. 

World on the Move: 250,00 years of Human Migration was developed by the American Anthropological Association, together with the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and Smithsonian Exhibits. It is administered by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office.

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