History

• Centuries ago Native Americans paddled their canoes to this island to collect oysters. After the Europeans arrived in the region, a man named Samuel Ellis built a tavern on the island for Hudson River fishermen.
  
  

Significance

• By the time the station closed in 1954, Ellis Island had served as the gateway to America for more than twelve million immigrants.
  
  

The First Immigrants

• Three Irish children--Annie Moore, 15 years old, and her brothers, 11-year-old Anthony and 7-year-old Phillip--were the first immigrants to pass through Ellis island on the day it opened, January 1, 1892.
  
  

Size

• The island the Indians knew was only three acres. The U.S. government used landfill to expand the island to 27.5 acres.
  
  

Fun Fact

• 1907 was Ellis Island's busiest year: 1,004,756 immigrants passed through the station. The busiest day was April 17, 1907, when the Ellis Island staff processed 11,747 immigrants.