Themes in American History

A tour to The Ellis Island Immigration Museum

Ellis Island is the site of the first Federal immigration station. It is known as the historical Museum because it documents the story of over twelve million immigrants entered the United States from 1892 to 1954. Ellis Island is a small island in New York Harbor and it is located in the upper bay just off the New Jersey coast. View from afar; it is like a secular and isolated island, an island can be reached only by vessels. It seems to me it plays a role of defending the country. As the important gateway to the United States, it helps to select the qualified immigrants as new members of the country.

This was my second time to Ellis Island.  The feeling between the first tour and the second visit is obviously different. Remember that my first time to Ellis Island was led by our summer class teacher. At that time, for an unenlightened boy who just immigrant to the United States, I was interested in all the new things in America, and there is no other feeling.  I just followed the mass and did not really pay attention to those historic relics. But now, I must admit to feeling ashamed of my conduct at the time.

When the first time I saw this picture, I just felt that the person who contributed this photo wall is awesome. But now, I will think it as the history. The wall that records those immigrants came to the United States in the early period. They were the people who brought more color and prosperous to the country. I carefully viewed this flag with head photos from different sides, and wanted to keep in mind that all these people who brought effects to the city we are living right now.

While there were many reasons to immigrate, the United States becomes the popular choice for them, especially during the time period 1892 to 1954.

From the picture, we can see that the luggages are old and heavy. When looking at them, the questions that come out in my mind, like “how many stuff they can bring with them to come to the U.S.;” “did these heavy luggages affect their speed to move on when they were in the confusion period?” These suitcases is a symbol, it symbolizes their new life in a foreign country. They record the immigration story from people. For me, these boxes filled with not only their property and their clothing, but more with tear for the not living from their hometown.

I realize and know more immigrant stories of our ancestors through to participate in this class. Although I did not experience their hardships, when I get into the Museum, those objects with historical meaning make me think of their plight and frustration they had at the time.

Comments Off on Ellis Island (Extra Credit)

One of the major difference between NYC and the rest of the cities in America has always been the population, but this difference expanded in the 1900s. All throughout American History, NYC has been the land of opportunity for the “hard workers” as well as the “dreamers” – but none more so during the 1900s. In the 1920s, musicians and artists from all over the country came to NYC, to try and be successful. With the radio reaching into every American’s house, NYC was the right place to be. America was introduced to the jazz and the blues. NYC was already home to Broadway theater, but it was only in the early 1900s, that the rest of America started taking notice of it.

Music was only one reason a lot of people were driven to NYC.  Industrialization, the growth in Transportation, and the opportunities available due to the New York Stock Exchange are some of the other reasons, that a lot of people were attracted to NYC. According to the census, the population in NYC grew by more than 2 million from 1900 to 1920, and by almost 2 million from 1920 to 1940, while the second most populous city at that time – Chicago, grew by a little over 1 million from 1900 to 1920 and by merely 700,000 from 1920 to 1940. Immigration is another big reason why NYC has always had a higher population growth than the other countries. During this period, millions of immigrants entered the city from Ellis Islands, although most of them did not live in NYC.

P.S: This video was shot in July 1903 by Edison Studios

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