Ellis Island’s Immigration Gateway (1892)
Ellis Island’s Immigration Gateway (1892)
Millions of immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. The luggage in this 1920 photograph records one small part of those journeys.
The story behind the scene
The federal immigration station opened in 1892. It inspected arriving passengers before allowing them to continue into the United States.
The Registry Room in the main building was part of that process. Inspections could determine whether someone entered the country, waited for further examination or was refused admission.
The immigration station closed in 1954. Its surviving buildings now house a museum about the island and the people whose journeys passed through it.
What you’re seeing
The historical photograph shows people carrying belongings past the immigration buildings. The modern photograph records the island as a visitor destination, with the buildings serving a different purpose.
Why this photo matters
The people and their luggage bring a large migration story into view. The buildings have survived, but visiting the museum is very different from facing inspection before entering a new country.
Historical photograph: Arriving at Ellis Island, 1920, George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress, 97519082. Modern photograph: Origins Publishing archive.
Sources: National Park Service; Library of Congress