Anticipation, Apprehension, Excitement & Fear: The Ellis Island Experience!

So this is THE DAY that I have been anticipating all year. We have known about this New York trip for at least two years and I have dreamed of this day constantly since our Chicago trip ended last June. But what is it about New York and this day in particular that excited me so much? I have lived in other parts of the world. I have been on vacations before. I went on the Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago Teaching American History trips the last three summers. But this is New York, “The Big Apple”, the “City that Never Sleeps”, the “Wonder City”, “Gotham” and so many more names! Yet today was more! It was about New York, the “Gateway to the American Dream!” Today was about immigration and the little island that symbolized that dream of coming to America. Today was about recounting the stories of immigrants past! Today was about reliving the Anticipation, Apprehension, Excitement, & Fear that had to be running through their heads as they disembarked the ship on the gangplank onto this tiny island, the only thing standing between each immigrant and freedom and a Dream and new home.  Today was devoted to learning about and experiencing Ellis Island!

Ellis Island

But first, let me give you a little about me and my background knowledge of Ellis Island. I went back to college in 2000 to get my teacher’s license. I also decided to get a degree in history and teach this area that I really love. But when I went back to college I really didn’t have a great knowledge base of history. This would have to come with hard work, late nights, lots of reading, and study. And as for Ellis Island, I really didn’t know a thing other than it was old. But then I took my second class with Dr. Rees and we had to write a 15 page research paper and for some unknown reason I chose Ellis Island. And let me tell you, that decision opened up a passion and love for the topic of immigration and of Ellis Island in particular! So I have studied and researched this area quite a bit. I also designed and taught an Elective History Class on Immigration with a huge focus devoted to Ellis Island. But now was my chance to live it, feel it, breathe it, touch it, and in to best way I know of, experience what those millions of men, women, and children must have felt as they made there way off the gangplank to Ellis Island, and for the majority beyond.

Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor, east of Liberty State Park and North of Liberty Island. It was originally used as a fort to help with coastal defense in 1808. From 1855 – 1890 the state ran immigration through Castle Garden. With over 5.7 million immigrants arriving in the United States during the 1880’s, the Federal Government decided to take control of immigration. In 1892 Ellis Island opened as an immigration station. Although not the only immigration station, between 1892 and 1954 Ellis Island was the nation’s busiest immigration station. The original wooden building was destroyed by firm in 1897 and the present Main Building was opened on December 17, 1900. Between 1901 and 1910 over 8.8 million immigrants were processed through Ellis Island.

During World War I immigration comes to a virtual standstill and Ellis Island was used as a center to detain enemy aliens. During the 1920’s, the Federal government passes immigration quotas limiting the number of foreigners allowed to come to America. From 1939 to 1945 immigration again comes to a halt with World War II and Ellis Island was used to intern Japanese, German, and Italian aliens. In 1954 Ellis Island closed as an immigration center. In 1965 Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In 1990 the Main Building with the Great Hall was opened as a museum and tourist attraction. 30 building of the Ellis Island complex are not open to the public.

The "Hard Hat Tour" - Exploring buildings not open to the public!

Ellis Island has undergone major changes over the years. Its original size and shape are nothing like today. It was much smaller and was expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. It was expanded with a separate wing of the island formed and over 250 yards of water between them. This wing held the contagious diseases. The medical reasoning of the day thought that disease could not survive going across this much water. Obviously they were mistaken. When they figured that out they expanded with more landfill and added a courtyard between the two wards and the main complex. 

Green : Original Island (Belongs to New York)

Ellis Island is located on the New Jersey side of the New York Bay. According to the United States Census, 83% of the island is located in the city of New Jersey. But the natural portion of the island, which was not created with landfill, is designated to be located in New York City. This has led to a major dispute between these two cities and was eventually brought before the Supreme Court of the United States.

 

The Court ruled in 1998 that New Jersey had jurisdiction over all portions of the island created after the original compact was approved (more than 80% of the island’s present land). This caused confusion and some buildings became parts of both states. New Jersey and New York agreed to share jurisdiction to the island. But Ellis Island is a Federal property and the National government is responsible financially and legally for any maintenance, preservation, or improvement of the historic properties. But sales tax on the income of the Bookshop continues to have New York and New Jersey at odds. Since the Bookshop is in New York they continue to get that tax money and the buildings on the New Jersey side wait until clarification is decided upon.

Ok, so why was I so excited about Ellis Island. Because it has so much histroy and has impacted America to degrees that are hard to fully explain. There were over 12,000,000 immigrants who came through Ellis Island. Of this number only about 2% were not accepted into America. That number is split roughly even with 1% rejected for legal reasons and 1% rejected for health reasons.

 

Families who came to America came for a reason. Most came for better opportunities. It’s what used to be called the “American Dream.” Make something out of yourself. This was the “Land of Opportunity” and it seemed like anyone willing to work hard could become successful. Many came for LAND, others for POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, still other for HEALTHY or BETTER JOBS or a hundred other reasons! But the fact was that these people were coming of their own choice. They wanted to become Americans and were wiling to lose much of their old culture in order to fit in and assimilate and become “Americanized.” 

 

But there were some who didn’t make it. Yes only 2% were rejected. But even with these small numbers of rejected immigrants, the fear of possible rejection must have been extreme! Can you imagine coming to America as a family and 1 member of the family not able to continue on. What would you do? Would the whole family go back to the old land or just the one person? And once they got to America, what unknowns would they face? A strange language and different money. Odd customs and new laws to learn. Would they find a job and where would they live? So many fears and unknowns! They had to be nervous and scared.

 

But it was America and they were excited to see the Statue of Liberty!  Yes and this brings me to my final portion of the day. We stopped on Liberty Island and visited “Lady Liberty.”  I have always wanted to go see this icon of American freedom. And here we were only to find out that someone didn’t get us passes to go inside! What? How could this be? Come on, we went up the Bunker Hill Memorial. I was very sad about this but I am planning on bringing 10 – 20 students next year to New York and Washington D.C. so I will make sure we go inside this icon of freedom and my dream will finally come 100% true!

Baby I Love You!

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