Many Westchester County residents can trace their family histories back through Ellis Island. But I’m not sure many have actually been there, or at least probably haven’t visited in a long while. I know the last (and only) time I was there was on an eighth grade field trip. However, April 17 is known as National Ellis Island Family History Day.So, this day is a great opportunity to learn more about Ellis Island, teach your kids some of its history, and look up some of your relatives who came through its doors.
Ellis Island was open from 1892 to 1954 and served as the busiest inspection station for immigrants to the US. April 17, 1907, was recorded as its busiest day, seeing 11,747 names passing through. During its run, approximately 12 million immigrants passed through.
National Ellis Island Family History Day was established on April 17, 2001, to commemorate the station and launch digital access to its records. This was a groundbreaking event, allowing millions of people to access family records for the first time. Now, online users can retrace their ancestor’s travels in a way that had never been done before.
This day might be a great time to talk with your kids about some of their ancestors who came to the US from all over the world. It can be a good introduction to learning about different cultures and their own cultural traditions and history.
You may even be surprised by what you find. Through its website, ellisisland.org, families can search passenger lists, find clues to their family’s past, and explore the histories of famous immigrants who came through the station.
If you’ve never ventured there or it’s been a while, this might be a good time to plan a trip to Ellis Island and its surrounding landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty. Incidentally, my own family is planning a little NYC staycation in the summer, and Ellis Island is on our list of places to visit. Now, we’ll be able to research our own family’s past before visiting the place where they started their new lives in the US.
