Ellis Island: What was it?
The main gateway for millions of immigrants to legally enter the United States between the years of 1892 to 1954. Located in New York, New York, on an island that is 27 1/2 acres!
An acre is made up of 43,560 square feet!
An acre is made up of 43,560 square feet!
Ellis Island: Statistics
In its peak year of 1907, Ellis Island processed over 1.2 million immigrants! By 1924, about 16 million immigrants had entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. And finally in 1954 when Ellis Island closed, about 40 million immigrants in total had entered the U.S. through the gates of Ellis Island.
Statue of Liberty: What was/is it?
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United State, given on October 28, 1886. It was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi. The Statue of Liberty could be seen by immigrants as they entered the United States and it symbolized freedom and still does. On the statue, a poem written by female poet Emma Lazarus is inscribed. Click on the picture of the statue below to hear the poem!
Statue of Liberty: Fun Facts
- The statue is just about 151 feet.
- The arm holding the torch measures
46 feet (14 meters); the index finger, 8 feet (2.4 meters); the nose,
nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters).
- The statue is covered in 300 sheets of coin-thin copper.
- Seven rays in the crown represent the Earth’s seven seas.
First Immigrants
The first immigrants to the United States, meaning the first group of people who came to the United States to live there, were the Native Americans who came from Asia. The immigrants who soon followed were the pilgrims, who came from Great Britain. There was a great conflict at the beginning over whose land America would be.
Immigrants who Followed
The immigrants who followed in the next centuries to come were mostly from Europe. Most immigrants who enter the U.S. now are from Latin America.
