With a new year came a new era in our nation's history ...
On January 1, 1892, the first Ellis Island Immigration Station opened to three waiting ships and processed 700 individuals on that first day.
The first person to enter the US through Ellis Island? Annie Moore, a 15-year old girl from Ireland who was with her two younger brothers. Over the next 62 years, 12 million more people would come through its doors until it closed as an immigration processing station in November 1954.
Today, Ellis Island is a national park, museum, and research center allowing individuals to learn about the history of immigration to the US and research the immigration history of their own ancestors (and I highly recommend a visit!)
(photos below by yours truly)
^ Ellis Island National Park and Museum, as seen from the Hudson River.
^ The Great Hall in Ellis Island, where for 62 years immigrants were processed (often waiting in long lines).
^ Old office supplies and signage from when Ellis Island was a working immigration processing facility.
^ Actual Certificates of Naturalization, and advertisements encouraging individuals to apply for naturalization/citizenship.
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