header

Rare Photos: Immigrants at Ellis Island in America

Ellis Island served as the largest immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1924. During this period, an estimated 12 million people from all over the world passed through the station, which was nicknamed the "Island of Hope." The significance of this passage was monumental as it gave a chance to countless Italian, Jewish, Hungarian, Greek, Guadeloupean, and Russian families to start a fresh life as American citizens.

This largely manmade patch of land in Upper New York Bay has since become a distinctive feature in American history that helped make the country one of the most powerful and diverse nations in the world. The fascinating photos below capture the diverse cultures and people that arrived at Ellis Island at the turn of the century. 

1. A Polish mother and her children

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Polish family

2. An Italian piper

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Italian piper

3. A Dutch Family

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Dutch Family

4. Five young ladies dressed in their traditional attire

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, young ladies

5. Moroccan immigrants

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Moroccan immigrants

6. A German family

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, German family

7. A Jewish family from England

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Jewish family from England

8. Scottish immigrants John D. and his family posed for a picture before leaving for Alabama in September 1905

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants,  Scottish immigrants

9. Swedish children in their folk costumes 

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Swedish children

10. Three Montenegrin men (Montenegro is located in the west-central Balkans at the southern end of the Dinaric Alps)

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Montenegrin men

11. Slovakian women

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Slovakian Women

12. Women from Guadalupe (French West Indies)

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Women from Guadalupe (French West Indies)

13. A Cossack immigrant from the steppes of Russia

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Cossack immigrant

14. A Greek woman

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Greek woman

15. Two women from the Netherlands

Portraits of Ellis Island Immigrants, Two women from the Netherlands
All images source: Izismile
Share these photos with friends and family...
Receive the newest nostalgia updates directly to your mail inbox
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Receive the newest nostalgia updates directly to your mail inbox
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy