WELCOME TO ELLIS ISLAND!
Arrival: After a long boat journey you have finally made it to Ellis island located in New York! Ellis island opened in 1892. You will now be taken by ferry to the main building.
The Baggage Room:
We have now arrived at the baggage room. In this room, you will leave any suitcases and trunks until you are finished.
Stairway to the Great Hall:
Next, you have to climb a large set of stairs while doctors stand at the top and watch you. If a doctor thinks that you might have a sickness or medical problem, you will be given a chalk mark on your clothing. This was known as "the six second medical exam." If you got a chalk mark, you will be sent to other doctors to be looked at more closely.
Medical Exam
At the medical examine you are carefully looked at by doctors. Doctors will look for any diseases or sickness you might have, as well as anything that may prevent you from working. All immigrants got a medical exam.
The Great Hall
If you make it through the medical exam, you move on to the Great hall. This is a large room where you wait to have an interview with a legal inspector. The process through Ellis Island takes about 3-5 hours if there are no problems.
Legal Inspection
At the legal inspection, you have to prove that you're allowed to come into the country. You have to prove where you're from, and where you expected to work and live when in America
$$ Money Exchange $$
If you make it past the legal inspection you move on to the money exchange. Here you exchange your homeland money into American money. You can also buy train tickets here if you need to.
The Exit
Well, if you made it through the whole process and just came from the money exchange, you've reached the exit! This is also known as "the kissing post" because many families and couples will be united here . It also represents your official entrance into America. Congratulations!
Ellis Island
Below is a short video of immigrants arriving to America.
A few immigrants speak during the video about their feelings of being in America and how happy they were to be there.
A few immigrants speak during the video about their feelings of being in America and how happy they were to be there.