Monday, 7:30 Megabus, subway from 28th to South Ferry, walk through Battery Park and board the ferry - all with 10 minutes to spare for the 12:00 PM ride to Ellis Island via Liberty Island.
Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the site of the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954. Twelve million immigrants were processed there by the U. S. Bureau of Immigration. After the Immigration Act of 1924 was passed, which greatly restricted immigration and allowed processing at overseas embassies, the only immigrants to pass through the station were displaced persons or war refugees. Today one third of our population can trace their ancestry to the immigrants who first arrived in America at Ellis Island before dispersing to points all over the country.
After the immigration station closed in 1954, the buildings generally fell into disrepair and were all but abandoned. Attempts at redeveloping the site were unsuccessful until its landmark status was established. In 1965 Ellis Island was proclaimed a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. It was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building reopened in 1990 and now includes 3 theaters for film and live performances and exhibits including The Hearing Room, Restoring a Landmark, Silent Voices, and Treasures from Home. Incredibly, of the 28,832 tiles in the ceiling of the main Registration Room, only 17 had to be replaced during restoration.
On the 2nd floor is a sculpture of Annie Moore, a 15 year old girl who was the first processed immigrant through Ellis Island on January 1, 1892.
