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Today’s online field trip takes us to Ellis Island, which served as the portal to almost all American immigrants arriving between 1892 and 1954.

Under the leadership of Lee Iacocca, the nonprofit Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation restored the Ellis Island Main Building and created the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The Museum tells the inspiring story of the largest human migration in modern history.

Between 1892 and 1954, twelve million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island. Today more than 40 percent, or over 100 million, of all living Americans can trace their roots to an ancestor who came through Ellis Island. Are you the descendant of an Ellis Island immigrant? Search the American Immigrant Wall of Honor for your family name, or have it inscribed for a tax-deductible donation.

Immigrants sailed to America in hopes of carving out new destinies for themselves. Most were fleeing religious persecution, political oppression and economic hardships. Thousands of people arrived daily in New York Harbor on steamships from mostly Eastern and Southern Europe. The first and second class passengers were allowed to pass inspection aboard ship and go directly ashore. Only steerage passengers had to take the ferry to Ellis Island for inspection.