Ellis Island

Hello. I am a little island floating in the water, right next to a very tall, green lady holding a torch. My buildings are made of red brick with pretty arches, like a big, welcoming house. For a very long time, I watched big ships sail across the sparkly ocean to come and see me. The boats were full of moms and dads and children. They were coming to a new home. My name is Ellis Island, and I was a special doorway to a new country called America.

My big job started on a chilly day, on January 1st, 1892. A girl named Annie Moore was the very first person to say hello to me. Soon, families from all over the world arrived on my shores, feeling excited and hopeful. They would walk into my giant Great Hall, a room so big their happy whispers would echo up to the high ceiling. Kind doctors and helpers were there to make sure everyone was healthy and ready to start their new adventure. It was a busy, bustling place, full of new friends and happy tears because they had found their new home.

After many, many years, my work as a doorway ended on November 12th, 1954. But I never forgot all the wonderful families who waved to me from their boats. Today, I am a museum. People visit me to learn about their grandparents and great-grandparents who came here a long, long time ago. I hold all their stories in my brick walls, and I remind everyone that welcoming others is a beautiful thing. I am here to remember all the amazing journeys that started with a big hello from me.