History & Operations
What year did Ellis Island officially open as an immigration station?
1892
Which European nationality made up the largest group processed at Ellis Island?
Italians
How long did a typical medical inspection last at Ellis Island?
About 6 seconds
In what Martin Scorsese film is Ellis Island depicted as part of an immigrant’s arrival in the U.S.?
Gangs of New York
Ellis Island is located in which body of water?
New York Harbor
Which country did the very first immigrant processed at Ellis Island come from?
Ireland
What famous American composer, born Israel Beilin, came through Ellis Island?
Irving Berlin
What was the “Stairs of Separation”?
A staircase where immigrants were directed to detention, deportation, or approval
What Oscar-winning film features a famous immigrant played by Marlon Brando, and includes a scene reminiscent of Ellis Island inspections?
The Godfather Part II
What nickname was Ellis Island sometimes given due to its emotional impact on arriving immigrants?
“Island of Tears”
Roughly how many immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954?
over 12 million
What physical exam did immigrants undergo to check for contagious eye disease?
Eye hook test for trachoma
What marked an immigrant for further medical inspection?
Chalk mark on their clothing
What is the title of the children’s book by Russell Freedman that tells the story of Ellis Island?
Immigrant Kids
What was Ellis Island originally used for before it became an immigration station?
It was used for military fortifications and ammunition storage.
What happened to Ellis Island in 1897 that temporarily halted its operations?
A fire destroyed the original wooden buildings
What term was used for people who were detained due to health or legal concerns?
“Held for Special Inquiry”
What percentage of immigrants were ultimately denied entry to the U.S.?
About 2%
Which classic American novel features characters who arrive in New York through Ellis Island?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story references Ellis Island as a symbol of what broader theme in American history?
Immigration and the American Dream
What was the name of the ferry company that transported immigrants from Ellis Island to Manhattan?
Ellis Island Ferry Company
Which U.S. President's father passed through Ellis Island?
Barack Obama (his Kenyan grandfather, not father, but often associated in trivia)
What was the Ellis Island hospital primarily used for?
Treating and isolating immigrants with infectious diseases
Which Newbery Medal-winning novel by Karen Hesse includes scenes of Eastern European immigrants arriving at Ellis Island?
Brooklyn Bridge
The poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, famously associated with the Statue of Liberty near Ellis Island, ends with what iconic phrase?
“I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”