Exploring Immigration Before & After the Ellis Years

Peopling of America Center

The Peopling of America Center at Ellis Island chronicles immigration to America before the processing station at Ellis Island opened in 1892 and after it closed in 1954.

The pre-Ellis Island galleries, “Journeys: The Peopling of America – 1550s-1890, explore the stories of Native Americans, those who arrived against their will, and immigration during the Colonial and Victorian eras until the opening of Ellis Island. First-hand accounts of the immigrant’s journey are told through interpretive graphics and poignant audio stories. 

“The Journey: New Eras of Immigration” exhibits focus on immigration from 1954 to present times. It reflects the rapid pace of technological progress that has characterized migration since World War II and the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrants in the modern world.