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Ellis Island, New York, New Jersey - Cont'd
United States National Parks - a network of nearly
400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across
the nation. The treasures in this system – the first
of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the
American people to preserve, protect, and
400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across
the nation. The treasures in this system – the first
of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the
American people to preserve, protect, and
provide a sampling of some National Parks. Perhaps this will spark an interest that
will inspire you to seek more information and explore national parks throughout the
United States.
will inspire you to seek more information and explore national parks throughout the
United States.
Ellis Island, New York, New Jersey, Part of Statue of Liberty National
Monument - Cont'd
While there were many reasons to emigrate to America, no reason could
be found for what would occur only five years after the Ellis Island
Immigration Station opened. During the evening of June 14, 1897, a fire on
Ellis Island burned the immigration station completely to the ground by the
following day. Although no lives were lost, some Federal and State
immigration records, dating back to 1855, burned along with the pine
buildings that failed to protect them. The Treasury Department quickly
ordered the immigration facility be replaced under one very important
condition. All future structures built on Ellis Island had to be fireproof. On
December 17, 1900, the new main building was opened and 2,251
immigrants were received that day.
Monument - Cont'd
While there were many reasons to emigrate to America, no reason could
be found for what would occur only five years after the Ellis Island
Immigration Station opened. During the evening of June 14, 1897, a fire on
Ellis Island burned the immigration station completely to the ground by the
following day. Although no lives were lost, some Federal and State
immigration records, dating back to 1855, burned along with the pine
buildings that failed to protect them. The Treasury Department quickly
ordered the immigration facility be replaced under one very important
condition. All future structures built on Ellis Island had to be fireproof. On
December 17, 1900, the new main building was opened and 2,251
immigrants were received that day.
While most immigrants entered the United States through New York
Harbor (the most popular destination of steamship companies), others
sailed into many ports such as Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San
Francisco and Savannah, Miami, and New Orleans. The great steamship
companies like White Star, Red Star, Cunard and Hamburg-America played
a significant role in the history of Ellis Island and immigration in general.
First and second class passengers who arrived in New York Harbor were
not required to undergo the inspection process at Ellis Island. Instead,
these passengers underwent a cursory inspection aboard ship; the theory
being that if a person could afford to purchase a first or second class
ticket, they were less likely to become a public charge in America due to
medical or legal reasons. The Federal government felt that these more
affluent passengers would not end up in institutions, hospitals or become
a burden to the state. However, first and second class passengers were
sent to Ellis Island for further inspection if they were sick or had legal
problems.
This scenario was far different for "steerage" or third class passengers.
These immigrants traveled in crowded and often unsanitary conditions
near the bottom of steamships with few amenities, oftenspending up to
two weeks seasick in their bunks during rough Atlantic Ocean crossings.
Upon arrival in New York City, ships would dock at the Hudson or East
River piers. First and second class passengers would disembark, pass
through Customs at the piers and were free to enter the United States. The
steerage and third class passengers were transported from the pier by
ferry or barge to Ellis Island where everyone would undergo a medical and
legal inspection.
If the immigrant's papers were in order and they were in reasonably good
health, the Ellis Island inspection process would last approximately three
to five hours. The inspections took place in the Registry Room (or Great
Hall), where doctors would briefly scan every immigrant for obvious
physical ailments. Doctors at Ellis Island soon became very adept at
conducting these "six second physicals." By 1916, it was said that a
doctor could identify numerous medical conditions (ranging from anemia
to goiters to varicose veins) just by glancing at an immigrant. The ship's
manifest or passenger list (filled out at the port of embarkation) contained
the immigrant's name and his/her answers to numerous questions. This
document was used by immigration inspectors at Ellis Island to cross
examine the immigrant during the legal (or primary) inspection. The two
agencies responsible for processing immigrants at Ellis Island were the
United States Public Health Service and the Bureau of Immigration (later
known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service - INS).
Despite the island's reputation as an "Island of Tears", the vast majority of
immigrants were treated courteously and respectfully, and were free to
begin their new lives in America after only a few short hours on Ellis
Island. Only two percent of the arriving immigrants were excluded from
entry. The two main reasons why an immigrant would be excluded were if
a doctor diagnosed that the immigrant had a contagious disease that
would endanger the public health or if a legal inspector thought the
immigrant was likely to become a public charge or an illegal contract
laborer.
During the early 1900's, immigration officials mistakenly thought that the
peak wave of immigration had already passed. Actually, immigration was
on the rise and in 1907, more people immigrated to the United States than
any other year; approximately 1.25 million immigrants were processed at
Ellis Island in that one year. Consequently, masons and carpenters were
constantly struggling to enlarge and build new facilities to accommodate
this greater than anticipated influx of new immigrants. Hospital buildings,
dormitories, contagious disease wards and kitchens were all were
feverishly constructed between 1900 and 1915.
Harbor (the most popular destination of steamship companies), others
sailed into many ports such as Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San
Francisco and Savannah, Miami, and New Orleans. The great steamship
companies like White Star, Red Star, Cunard and Hamburg-America played
a significant role in the history of Ellis Island and immigration in general.
First and second class passengers who arrived in New York Harbor were
not required to undergo the inspection process at Ellis Island. Instead,
these passengers underwent a cursory inspection aboard ship; the theory
being that if a person could afford to purchase a first or second class
ticket, they were less likely to become a public charge in America due to
medical or legal reasons. The Federal government felt that these more
affluent passengers would not end up in institutions, hospitals or become
a burden to the state. However, first and second class passengers were
sent to Ellis Island for further inspection if they were sick or had legal
problems.
This scenario was far different for "steerage" or third class passengers.
These immigrants traveled in crowded and often unsanitary conditions
near the bottom of steamships with few amenities, oftenspending up to
two weeks seasick in their bunks during rough Atlantic Ocean crossings.
Upon arrival in New York City, ships would dock at the Hudson or East
River piers. First and second class passengers would disembark, pass
through Customs at the piers and were free to enter the United States. The
steerage and third class passengers were transported from the pier by
ferry or barge to Ellis Island where everyone would undergo a medical and
legal inspection.
If the immigrant's papers were in order and they were in reasonably good
health, the Ellis Island inspection process would last approximately three
to five hours. The inspections took place in the Registry Room (or Great
Hall), where doctors would briefly scan every immigrant for obvious
physical ailments. Doctors at Ellis Island soon became very adept at
conducting these "six second physicals." By 1916, it was said that a
doctor could identify numerous medical conditions (ranging from anemia
to goiters to varicose veins) just by glancing at an immigrant. The ship's
manifest or passenger list (filled out at the port of embarkation) contained
the immigrant's name and his/her answers to numerous questions. This
document was used by immigration inspectors at Ellis Island to cross
examine the immigrant during the legal (or primary) inspection. The two
agencies responsible for processing immigrants at Ellis Island were the
United States Public Health Service and the Bureau of Immigration (later
known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service - INS).
Despite the island's reputation as an "Island of Tears", the vast majority of
immigrants were treated courteously and respectfully, and were free to
begin their new lives in America after only a few short hours on Ellis
Island. Only two percent of the arriving immigrants were excluded from
entry. The two main reasons why an immigrant would be excluded were if
a doctor diagnosed that the immigrant had a contagious disease that
would endanger the public health or if a legal inspector thought the
immigrant was likely to become a public charge or an illegal contract
laborer.
During the early 1900's, immigration officials mistakenly thought that the
peak wave of immigration had already passed. Actually, immigration was
on the rise and in 1907, more people immigrated to the United States than
any other year; approximately 1.25 million immigrants were processed at
Ellis Island in that one year. Consequently, masons and carpenters were
constantly struggling to enlarge and build new facilities to accommodate
this greater than anticipated influx of new immigrants. Hospital buildings,
dormitories, contagious disease wards and kitchens were all were
feverishly constructed between 1900 and 1915.
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Next: Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty National Monument Cont'd
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information provided on this site or any site linked to from this site. We make no guaranties as to accuracy, content, truthfulness, quality, or
fitness for a particular purpose of any of the information presented on this site. We do not assume any legal liabi ty or responsibility for any
incorrect, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Additionally, we do not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the contents,
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