Millions of Americans trace roots through Ellis Island
Can you trace one of your ancestors through Ellis Island? If so, you're one of 100 million Americans (about 30 percent of our current population) who will be able to find their ancestors at libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger.
Ellis Island opened 125 years ago in 1892 and during it service period (ending in 1954), it processed 12 million European third-class and steerage immigrants. In one April day alone, the island processed 11,747 immigrants.
Among the descendants of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island: Irving Berlin, Bob Hope, Yogi Berra, Cicely Tyson, M. Pei, Madeleine Albright, Tommy Lasorda, Lee Iacocca, Joe Namath, the Forbes Family, Mary Higgins Clark and Colin Powell.
Between 1892 and 1954, Congress passed a series of laws to control the number or type of acceptable entrants, specifying health, skills, and ties to others in the United States..
If you know or suspect that your ancestors traveled through Ellis Island, you can check it out free online. Go to libertyellisfoundation.org and do a free passenger search.
