America is the most desirable place in the world to immigrate to, and America has become known for its melting pot diverse culture. We think of thousands of immigrants having braved the ocean for months, often times fleeing disasters at home like the Potato Famine in Ireland. Do you know what image immigrants held that gave them hope? It’s the first thing encountered when coming to America, a giant statue holding a torch – better known as the Statue Liberty.
On this day January 20th, in 1785, Samuel Ellis advertises to sell an island he had recently acquired in Loudon’s New York-Packet. At this point it was still called Oyster Island. Ellis was a merchant, and he owned a tavern on the Island which was frequented by fisherman. It wasn’t until 1808 that the federal government bought Oyster Island from Ellis’ heirs for the sum of $10,000. It was also during this time that the name “Ellis Island” stuck, and henceforth came what has become a symbol of freedom, hope, and America.
In its beginning years Ellis Island was strictly an Immigration Depot, having processed 10’s of millions of people. In 1886 the Statue of Liberty was given as a gift by France. It wasn’t until 1965 that the Statue of Liberty was incorporated as part of Ellis Island, but to the world Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were always a unified symbol, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of you teamming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (Emma Lazarus.)
Have any stories about Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty? Feel free to share them!