ellis island
Ellis Island Ellis Island was the federal immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1954. ... It is estimated that over 40 percent of all American citizens can trace their ancestry to those who came through Ellis Island. ... Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor, next to the Statue of Liberty. ... The islands first name was "Oyster Island," because of the rich oyster beds found near it. Samuel Ellis was the owner of the island and tried to sell the island to New York, but that did not occur until after his death in 1807. ... Ellis Island was elected as the site for construction of a new Federal immigration station for the port of New York in 1890, and it was opened on January 1, 1892.