Ellis Island, New York Harbor, New York, New York County, NY

Significance: Ellis Island is significant as the primary port of entry into the United States for immigrants during the period 1892-1954. The Ellis Island facility is located in New York Harbor on three small islands modified by successive building programs into one. From January 1, 1892 until June 15, 1897, the immigration station was housed in a variety of wood buildings which included a main building, a hospital, a laundry, a utility plant and a number of supporting outbuildings. Some of these support structures were former military buildings from the naval powder magazine previously located on the island. After a fire destroyed the immigration facility on June 15, 1897, a new, larger facility was erected on Island 1 and Island 2. The new facility opened December 17, 1900 and featured a three-story, brick, French Renaissance style immigration building, a brick Georgian Revival style hospital complex, and outbuildings. Subsequent construction occurred between 1900 and 1911 and included numerous additions to the main hospital, a contagious disease hospital on Island 3, a number outbuildings, and connecting corridors. Between 1934 and 1936 the last buildings were constructed with Public Works Administration (PWA) funding. These structures included a new immigration building, a new ferry building, a recreation building and brick passageways.
In addition to immigration functions, Ellis Island was a detention center for enemy aliens and deportees during World Wars I and II. A U.S. Coast Guard unit was stationed there from 1939 until 1946, and again from 1951-1954. The hospital complex at Ellis Island—operated by the U.S. Marine Hospital Service from 1900 to 1912 and by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1912 to 1951—closed March 1, 1951. The Ellis Island U.S. Immigration Station ceased operation November 12, 1954. The complex was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965.
Survey number: HABS NY-6086
Building/structure dates: 1897 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1934 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000058