This Day in History: Ellis Island Shuts its Doors
Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor and historically a critical immigration processing station, is notable for having processed nearly 12 million immigrants from 1892 to 1954. Today, about 40% of Americans may trace their ancestry back to those immigrants who traversed through this gateway of hope and opportunity. The island is presently part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and features a national museum of immigration on its north side, while the south side includes guided tours of the former Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital.
The origins of the island date back to Samuel Ellis, who purchased it in 1774. Initially a military site and later an inspection station, Ellis Island has a rich history of immigration that transformed dramatically post-1924, when it became primarily a detention site for migrants. During both World Wars, it also served as a detention area for prisoners of war. After its closure as an inspection station, the island faced years of neglect until parts of it were reopened in 1976, culminating in a full renovation into a museum in 1990.
Covering 27.5 acres, the island was expanded through land reclamation efforts that created the structures seen today, including various historical sites and the Wall of Honor. Jurisdictional debates between New Jersey and New York concluded in a 1998 Supreme Court decision confirming that while the majority of the island belongs to New Jersey, its northern tip is an exclave of New York. The historical significance of Ellis Island is cemented through the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, alongside various federal and local landmark designations, illustrating its enduring impact on the fabric of American identity.