Voices From Ellis Island

^{SOURCE: Excerpts from the U.S. National Park Service (The Statue of Liberty National Monument)}

As the steamship pulled into New York Harbor in 1923, weary yet hopeful immigrants crowded onto the top decks. They jockeyed for a spot to see the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom in what they hoped would become their new home: the United States.

Einar Heino, a 13-year-old boy from Finland, was one of them. “[Everyone was] yelling and, you know, welcoming the new country,” he recalled years later. “It was sort of exciting.”

His parents, like most immigrants in the early 1900s, were moving to the U.S. from Europe in search of work. And there were plenty of jobs available. The Industrial Revolution had created a demand for millions of factory workers. Other people were fleeing war, discrimination, or poverty in their home countries. 

—Lawrence Meinwald, arrived from Poland in 1920 at age 6

But first, most immigrants had to pass inspection at Ellis Island Immigration Station, nestled in the harbor between New York and New Jersey. The federal government opened the facility in 1892 to manage the influx of millions of people.

At the time, there were few restrictions on who could enter the country through Ellis Island. Healthy immigrants who were able to work would most likely be welcomed. As a result, as many as 5,000 people passed through the facility each day between 1892 and 1924. Before Ellis Island closed in 1954, it admitted more than 12 million people into the U.S.

What was the experience like for immigrants at Ellis Island? Learn about this process by reading first-person accounts from Einar and other kids and teens who went through it during some of Ellis Island’s busiest years.

Once a ship arrived in New York Harbor, it was met by a small boat from Ellis Island carrying immigration inspectors. The inspectors would examine first- and second-class passengers and allow most of them to leave the ship to go directly to their final destination. Because these passengers were often wealthier, they were considered less likely to be sick or become a financial burden on the U.S. 

All third-class and steerage passengers, on the other hand, had to board a ferry for Ellis Island, where they would undergo more thorough inspections. Thousands of people arrived at the facility daily, speaking dozens of different languages. Once there, they were separated into two lines: one for women and children and one for men. 

The long lines snaked through the Registry Room, also known as the Great Hall (below). It was a space about the size of two high school basketball courts, often holding thousands of excited, nervous immigrants at a time.

Rose Breci arrived from Sicily, an island in Italy, in 1911 at age 9. She made the journey with her mother and siblings. They were coming to join Rose’s father, who was already working in the U.S.

Einar Heino arrived from Finland in 1923 at age 13 with his family. Relatives in the U.S. had encouraged Einar’s parents to move, believing they would have a better life in America.

Leah Drachman arrived from Russia in 1916 at age 16. World War I (1914-1918) was raging, and parts of Russia were occupied by Germany. Leah’s parents sent her to live with a cousin in Illinois.

Lawrence Meinwald arrived from Poland in 1920 at age 6. His family was fleeing growing prejudice against Jewish people in Europe. 

After the medical exam, immigrants faced another test. They waited in a second line—this time to be interviewed by immigration inspectors, often with the help of an interpreter. Each passenger had already been grilled about their reasons for moving before boarding a ship headed to the U.S. Those answers had been recorded in the ship’s manifest, a thick document that included details about every passenger, such as their name, occupation, and final destination in the U.S.

Now inspectors quizzed each immigrant on their answers, comparing them with answers in the manifest. The most important questions concerned how much money each person carried and how they planned to earn a living in the U.S. The inspectors’ job was to make sure that every person intended to contribute to the American economy.

If an immigrant’s answers didn’t raise any concerns, they were free to leave. All told, most people spent roughly three to five hours at Ellis Island before they could start new lives as Americans.

Rose Breci, from Italy

Some people ended up staying at Ellis Island for days, weeks, or even months for various reasons.

Immigrants who were sick were often sent to the Ellis Island hospital to make a full recovery before they could leave. Children of hospitalized parents also had to stay. To pass time, they attended classes at a makeshift school on the island.

In other instances, a longer stay might be required if an immigrant’s paperwork was incomplete or missing, or if family members did not come to pick them up. Women and children traveling on their own could not leave Ellis Island until relatives claimed them—either in person or by telegram.

Some people never found out why they were kept at the facility for longer periods. But after leaving Ellis Island, they were able to move all over the country and begin their new lives.

Angela Maria Pirrone Weinkam arrived from Italy in 1924 at age 12. Her mother was ill with blood poisoning, so Angela and her siblings had to stay at Ellis Island while she recovered.

Joseph Haas arrived by himself from Germany in 1922 at age 14. For unknown reasons, he was kept at Ellis Island for nearly two weeks.

Julia Barlas Groulx arrived from Greece in 1917 at age 13 without any relatives. Workers eventually found a family in New York City to take her in.