Ellis Island has a long history, was needed, and was the "Gateway to America" from 1892 until it closed in 1954, when it began its slow decay. The island was called Gull Island by the Indians and Oyster Island by the Dutch. Laterthe English erected a gibbet or gallows on the island for hanging criminals and so theisland became known as Gibbet Island. The Indians sold it to the Dutch East IndiaCompany for trinkets. The company later sold it to Mynheer Paauw who also boughtland along the New Jersey coastline. Samuel Ellis, a colonial merchant bought theisland and it became at last Ellis Island. After the Revolution, the island was sold toNew York State and in 1811, Fort Gibson was built on it in preparation for the War of1812. No fighting took place at Fort Gibson it was mainly a munitions storage fort.When immigrants began, pouring into New York City, New York State processed themat an old fort known as Castle Clinton on the Battery at the tip of Manhattan. Whenthat facility became too small for the large number of immigrants arriving in the country,they chose Ellis Island as the new immigration center. After erecting new woodenbuildings, it opened in 1892 but those buildings burned in 1897. New buildings wereerected in 1900 and it reopened. Eventually the control of immigration was turned overto the Federal government.Ellis Island was the principal federal immigration station the “Gateway to America” inthe United States from 1892 to 1954. More than 12 million immigrants were processedhere. Over time, the immigration station spread over 3 connected islands withnumerous structures including a hospital and contagious disease wards. It is estimatedthat over 40 percent of all citizens can trace their ancestry to those who came throughEllis Island. In its early years, when the greatest number of immigrants entered thecountry, Ellis Island mirrored the nation's generous attitude and open door policy. Afterpassage o...
