|
From
1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United
States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New
York Harbor. Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off the
New Jersey coast, within the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.
Through the years, this gateway to the new world was enlarged from
its original 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres mostly by landfill obtained
from ship ballast and possibly excess earth from the construction of
the New York City subway system.
Prior to 1890, the individual states (rather than the Federal
government) regulated immigration into the United States. Castle
Garden in the Battery (originally known as Castle Clinton) served as
the New York State immigration station from 1855 to 1890 and
approximately eight million immigrants, mostly from England,
Ireland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries , passed through its
doors to settle and populated the United States.
Although not as many as entered the United States during the
famine years (1845-50), a significant number of those immigrants
were Irish, and it is to their sons and daughters who are carrying
on the traditions, the culture and the heritage, that we dedicate
this 2006 North Texas Irish Festival.
|
It is estimated that as many as 4.5 million Irish arrived in America
between 1820 and 1930.
"On the boats and on the planes
They're coming to America
Never looking back again
They're coming to America."
Neil Diamond
For additional information on Ellis
Island and immigration records to the United States visit the Ellis
Island Foundation website.
|
