Most visitors will visit Ellis Island as part of their ferry trip to the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, for many visitors it seems like Ellis Island is an afterthought. However, for the countless Americans who had family arrive to the United States between 1892 - 1954, Ellis Island is an important pilgrimage. In fact, 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island.

My visit was on an overcast day, with sprinkling rain, March 2015. I was excited to see the island and immediately made my way to the museum, which provides a window into immigration at the turn of the 20th century. I would love to tour the Hospital Complex, which is largely in disrepair, though restoration work is in the long term plans.

Family Connection

My Great-Grandfather immigrated to the United States and was processed at Ellis Island March 12th, 1909. He travelled from his home in Öland Island (just North of the WHS), Sweden to Liverpool, England. From there the ship (Mauretania) took him across the Atlantic to Ellis Island. He was 21 years old. My Great-Grandmother (young, unmarried) arrived a year later and serendipitously met my Great-Grandfather in Chicago. 

Thinking back, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island both stand out as a worthwhile trip. Each hold special meaning for many Americans and the families of immigrants that remained in the home country. As world heritage, I feel the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have enough difference in criteria to merit separate status.

What about Angel Island?

Yet, there is one truth that makes me hesitate to fully support inscription for Ellis Island alone. In San Francisco Bay there is the Angel Island Immigration Station (1910-1940). The immigrants, primarily from East and South Asia that arrived in San Francisco had a vastly different experience than the immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island. Detentions often lasted for weeks or months, inspections for disease were invasive and degrading, and the rejection rate was high. With the context of Anti-Chinese immigration laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, which blocked Chinese immigrants exclusively for 60 years, an Ellis Island inscription would affirm one narrative of American immigration, while ignoring the other by omission. Therefore, my position would be a joint nomination or none at all.

More than ever, the United States needs to grapple with our History of Migration (forced and voluntary). We are a nation that celebrates a simplistic notion around the 'melting pot' metaphor and the 'nation of immigrants' narrative. But can we truly ignore the bipolar sentiments toward immigrants that have swept our country throughout the 1800's, 1900's and today? We love immigrants and then we don't like immigrants. Then it changes to well, only certain immigrants contribute to our country. Imagining myself immigrating to the US in the early 1900's, I would have been granted entry at Ellis Island, my spouse would have been inspected at Angel Island, and I am in no way certain she would have been granted entry. So, my opinion is a BIG 👎🏼 to this nomination if it ignores the truth.

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