Interesting Facts About Ellis Island

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As most of us know, Ellis Island is where many immigrants landed in the late 1800's to early 1900's. It is said that nearly 12 million people crossed through Ellis Island. Originally the island was only 3.3 acres and it took landfill from the construction of the New York subway and ship ballast from boats in the harbor to expand it to about 28 acres. Arriving on New Year's Day in 1892 were the first three to be processed at Ellis Island. Three young children came to reunite with their family. The eldest was given a $10 gold piece to commemorate the occasion. The land was owned by Samuel John Ellis, a New York merchant, but after he died in 1785 it was found that he had leased the land to the city of New York and in 1808 it was sold to the city for $10,000. The water was shallow in the harbor there and so first and second class passengers were debarked in Manhattan. The steerage "cheapest ticket holders" were taken in boats to Ellis Island and were intensely interviewed. Ellis Island closed on November 12, 1954 after being used for over sixty years.