Page 84 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

82  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

d Ellis Island

Around 40 per cent of America’s population can trace
its roots to Ellis Island, which served as the country’s
immigration depot from 1892 until 1954. Nearly
12 million people passed through its gates and
dispersed across the country in the greatest Main building
wave of migration the world has ever
known. Centered on the Great Hall or
Registry Room, the site today houses the
three-story Ellis Island Immigration
Museum. Much of this story is told with
photographs and the voices of actual . Baggage Room
immigrants, and an electronic database The immigrants’
traces ancestors. Outside, the American meager possessions
Immigrant Wall of Honor is the largest wall were checked here
on arrival.
of names in the world. No other place
explains so well the “melting pot” that
formed the character of the nation. Visit
early to avoid the crowds.

Rail Ticket
A special fare for
immigrants led many
on to California.

.Great Hall
. Dormitory Immigrant families were made
There were separate to wait for “processing” in the
sleeping quarters Registry Room. The old metal
for male and railings were replaced with
female detainees. wooden benches in 1911.

KEY
The Restoration
1 The ferry office sold tickets to
New Jersey. In 1990 a $156-million project by
the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island
2 The railroad office sold tickets Foundation, Inc., renewed several
onward to the final destination. ruined build ings, replacing the
3 The metal-and-glass awning is copper domes and restoring the
a re-creation of the original. interior with original fixtures.

082-083_EW_New_York_City.indd 82 4/3/17 11:10 AM