Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the principle point of entry for immigrants to America from 1892 until 1924, during which period an estimated 12 million people were processed.
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Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the principle point of entry for immigrants to America from 1892 until 1924, during which period an estimated 12 million people were processed.
The north half of Ellis Island housed its main immigration facilities. An artificially created land area referred to as the “south half” of the U-shaped island accommodated a ferry landing slip and a sprawling state-of-the-art public hospital complex consisting of some 24 structures.
Despite the historic significance of Ellis Island and its prominent location adjacent to the Statue of Liberty, the entire island was deemed surplus U.S. government property in 1951 and abandoned. Since the mid-1970s efforts have been underway to preserve Ellis Island as a site of national, if not international, historical importance. While the north half of Ellis was rehabilitated between 1981 and 1990, the island’s south half remains in disuse and is vulnerable to severe weathering due to its exposed location.
Concerned that the remains of the hospital complex might soon deteriorate beyond practical repair, efforts were begun in 1997 to arrest its decay and formulate a plan for its incremental rehabilitation.
