When my grandmother came through there from Ireland, it was her parents and her TWENTY siblings. Hearing how hard it was to actually get approved for entry adds a whole new level of appreciation for what she and the rest of her family went through. Thanks for the history lesson!
@@0799qwertzuiop Maybe though. But a family being so lucky to have all twenty kids being accepted as healthy and fit to work some day is pretty damn lucky back in the day.
@@0799qwertzuiop You might want to reread the history there. The number of immigrants denied entry at Ellis Island was large enough to where it became known as 'the island of tears'.
I took my then 10 year old daughter to Ellis Island in the late 80's. We still talk of that trip as one of the most moving experiences we have ever had. If you are in NYC, go if you can. You will not regret the time you spend there.
I'm not a descendant of an immigrant who came through Ellis Island, my Father's family came from France via Canada and my Mother's ancestors came from Ireland to help build the Erie Canal. I do however, appreciate the hardship and uncertainty that many of the people whose first stop in the new world was Ellis Island, without them America wouldn't be what it is today.
You mean it would be crime free? And Idaho wouldn’t need to grow so many potatoes? Kidding lol I couldn’t resist the urge for a little immigrant humour lol
I wander if we are related ;-) - my family too came through French Canada and end up on west coast and Alaska with lots of back and forth over the Canadian boarder.
On my mother's side, my Jewish great-great grandfather came to America in 1889. His wife & 4 children (my great-grandfather was the youngest) arrived in 1891. Thanks for educating me that they were processed in the Castle Garden area of Ellis Island. On my father's side, my Danish great-grandfather also arrived at Ellis Island, probably during the period when a lot of Scandinavians came to America since I can't remember the exact year at this moment.
I visited Ellis Island in November 2017. What cannot be underestimated is the scale of the museum, and therefore the amount of information to be viewed on plaques, display cases, through their mini-documentaries and the guided audio tour. My two friends and I spent close to 2 hours there, with a rather lengthy ferry ride there and back, and there was a lot we did not get to see. For anyone wanting to visit, I'd recommend packing a lunch, taking the morning ferry, and plan to make it the day's main event. I'd really like to return to take the tour in the non-renovated section of the island, as although the museum may share characteristics with the original building, it's fresh coat of paint and other tourist-friendly don't really convey the reality of the building's history.
Nice one. My great grandmother and her family emigrated to the US from Ireland via Ellis Island when she was a teenager/young adult and she settled there for a few years and was engaged and everything. Then a few years later she decided to go back to Ireland on holiday and never returned. Some of her family never spoke to her again because of it.
My great grandparents with their youngest son came to America from Italy in 1909. They made their way to Northern Minnesota so my great grandfather could work in the iron ore mines. In 1947 my Romanian grandmother came to the US with my soldier grandfather. She said seeing the Statue of Liberty filled her full of hope after just leaving her war ravaged home country.
Steve Rossini do you still have family in MN? That’s where my great grandparents ended up too. One set near St. Cloud and the other set way way up north in Babbitt.
All 4 of my great grandparents made it through Ellis Island. 2 Daigos, 1 Limey, 1 Mick. Both great- grandfathers ended up being NYC Firefighters (Different Companies). Both families had a plethora of children. Both my grandfathers fought in WW2. 1 in the Pacific, 1 in Europe.
Great family history...After I read that I said " coooool" out loud...LoL. Your great grandfathers sound freaken awesome so far...Hard working bad asses
@@paulfrench7356 Thanks man. Im sure there are many families with similar backgrounds. Ellis Island is a cool spot to visit. If you haven't been there make a point to go.
My paternal grandfather came to America through Canada from Scotland, but I've known so many whose ancestors came through Ellis Island over the years. Joy and tears indeed. Well done! Great presentation! Thank you for the truthfulness!
I love how at the end of your immigration video you casually say and that's what "made America great" And I love the shade that you throw even though some won't get it.
Simon- want to share my experience here. My family were poor, from the northwest of Ireland. They came in through Ellis Island. One of proud moments of my life was sailing past Lady Liberty and Ellis Island aboard the USS Kearsarge in 2015 for Fleet Week in NYC. I felt connection with my ancestors who gambled everything to see this sight. I wanted them to know that many generations on, one their sons would see the same sight, serving as an officer aboard a celebrated warship of this great experiment we call America. We are the All-Stars of the world and I’m enormously humbled and inspired by the story of American immigration. It is our story. Thank you for making this video!!
My Hungarian great-grandpa came through Ellis Island in 1921, with my great-grandma and then-infant great aunt following in 1923. They met up with my great-grandpa in Indiana where he was working in the Studebaker factory. Can't wait to visit here one day and see it in person. Great video!
Even though I've never been to Ellis island I share a bit of history with it. My great great grandfather had bought a ticket to the US that was bound to Ellis island. When he was about to board his ship the woman he loved said she couldn't do it. He tried to persuade her to come but she could not leave her family and home. For the sake of his girl he stayed. Had it not been for that one moment, my entire family would not be here.
I've been to Ellis Island twice. I was very moved by the experience and had tears in my eyes thinking of the struggles the immigrants went through, which included my maternal grandmother's parents and her older brother and sister. I was able to get copies of the actual records of them coming through there. I'm very proud that my family was part of the heritage of Ellis Island.
My grandmother on my mothers side came over in 1908 with her husband - they were 13/16 respectively from Scotland and got a land grant in Alabama to be farmers. Back then you had to live on the land and work it for 5 years before it was legally yours. It is still in the family and she lived to 101. Grandfather passed at 89. She had 12 children but only 8 made it to adulthood. She all told us what it was like and she was terrified they might be turned away as tuberculosis was common for the Scots coming over.
The homestead act. My family has a homestead property as well. It's in Wyoming. 1889 baby. My grandmother is 95 and technically still owns it. Her grandfather homesteaded it.
I know that I'm coming late to this video, but I have to comment. I went to Ellis Island in 2000 because I'm a history buff and I thought it would be interesting. It was far more than that. As we got off the ferry, I remember telling my sister, "Imagine you're coming here with nothing and can't even speak the language and this huge building is the first thing you see." It was kind of awe-inspiring even to me. We were there for hours (You need to allow hours.) There are so many artifacts and displays. And, frankly, we just sat and absorbed the magnitude of what the place represented. There were lots of surprises, too. One that I remember well was coming around a corner to see a huge banner with a photo of a Japanese family and, being from Seattle, y first thought was "Why would you go the long way around?" So I learned something . I learned a lot. I highly recommend going - even though, as they announced on the ferry, you're not allowed to bring bicycles, skateboards or barbecues with you.
@@gaylemc2692 He was. He had a book come out in the '70s, and I remember standing in line with my mother and grandmother to get it signed. I think I was... nine? Somewhere around there. At the last minute, for some reason, I was the only one of the three of us to go forward to get it signed. Afterward my mother and grandmother asked me repeatedly what I had said to the man... and for the life of me, I could not remember saying _anything_. But I must have said something amusing, because apparently he laughed quite heartily as he signed the book.
I love it when you use calmer music during the parts inbetween sections, since I typically watch before falling asleep! :) Love the content as always! This was a great video.
I love the fact there's no music behind the narration! Some of his other channels have this annoying quiet but obnoxious same 2 or 3 bars playing over and over in an endless loop. Sounds like a tiny orchestra of rubber bands. I wonder why so many UA-camrs insist on this garbage, when you listen to something like this and realize it is MUCH BETTER without any music at all.
"On the first day of January, 1892. They opened Ellis Island and they let the people through And the first to cross the Threshold, of that isle of hope and tears Was Annie Moore from Ireland, who was only 15 years"
Visiting Ellis Island was so much more emotional than I thought it would be. At least three of my great grandparents (possibly four) entered the US through Ellis Island and my grandpa's mom was born the year after her parents and siblings did the same. The mix of emotions they must have faced must have been overwhelming. Joy, relief, and hope after making it to a new country where they would be safer with better opportunities and at the same time worry for the friends and family they left behind and completely heartbroken not because they left (they were happy to escape the pogroms) but because they had to leave.
In the early 1990s. It was right after desert Storm. We had been overseas for over a year. Even though only one guy in my entire unit grew up in New York. When we passed Lady Liberty, we all knew we were home.
I'm from L.A. and didn't make it to NYC until my 40th year, but everyone really should see the Statue of Liberty. It is absolutely striking up close, and no photo or video has ever done it justice. Thanks France!
what a nice sweater you're wearing Simon. When I lived in San Francisco, I worse lots of sweaters, then I moved to Puerto Rico and never needed one. Now, living in Tucson, AZ, I only need one about 1 week a year. The warm weather here is getting warmer every winter along with the decreasing rainfall. It's November and I am still wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts. Occasionally, I wear sweat pants or a sweat shirt and about one week a year, I need a coat and need to wear my jeans. When I lived in the Bay Area, we went to Angel Island, the West Coast Ellis Island with lots of history as well. It is the port where most of the Asian newcomers were processed (as well as others) .. The history you can see there is wonderful and the island is absolutely beautiful.
Both sets of maternal Great-Grand Parents came through Ellis Island. Austria, Germany, Poland & Lithuania in the late 1890's. One Granddad was a cobbler, the other a furniture maker. Both settled outside Chicago. Now the paternal side has been an effort, looks like one side came over via Canada and settled first in Michigan, Great-Great-Grandfather served in the civil war, the other side also came through Ellis from Austria/Germany area.
0:55 - Chapter 1 - Oysters, Pirates & Gunpowder 5:05 - Chapter 2 - Founding the immigration station 10:30 - Chapter 3 - Coming to ellis island 15:05 - Chapter 4 - The people of ellis island 19:00 - Chapter 5 - From annie to arne 21:00 - Chapter 6 - Ellis island today
Thank you, Simon, the video was excellent! It feels good to hear a non-American appreciate and commemorate the struggles to legally immigrate back then and to happily assimilate and work hard to achieve the American Dream. America has it's flaws, no doubt, but people with dreams and ideas can make anything happen here.
Although my parents moved to the US from the UK in 1980, it was staggering to see my great great uncle's name in the registry on Ellis island. I was blessed to play with my high school concert band on the lawn in front of the immigration center in 1999
A trip to Ellis Island is surprisingly inspiring! While immigrants were subjected to a medical inspection, as the video says, the number of people rejected was low, about 2% (and you could appeal the rejection)-most people, about 80%, went through the process in a few hours. And there was no paperwork-at the peak of immigration in 1907, passports were not in existence-inspectors were matching the person’s name against the ship’s manifest, nothing more. Interpreters, who had to pass a federal civil service exam in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension, were on hand-the common languages were Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Slovak, German, Yiddish, French, Greek, Hungarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian, Romanian, Swedish, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Czech, Spanish, Armenian, Arabic, Dutch, Norwegian and Chinese. Later NYC mayor Fiorello LaGuardia worked at Ellis Island as an interpreter certified for Italian, German, Yiddish and Croatian from 1907 to 1910. It was, for the most part, a very humane process, unlike what happened on the West Coast at Angel Island.
When I was in 6th grade, my entire class had to do an Ellis Island project, where we got assigned characters immigrating to the US, then turned the library into the immigration center, where we went through all the steps you listed in the video. Little me though, I was so dedicated to my character, I brought all this crap I thought she would have, and I wrapped it up in a blanket because I figured she wouldn't own a suitcase? Anyway, it was a miserable experience, so hot, standing in line all day, my bag just kept getting heavier and heavier. And in that aspect, it was a very authentic Ellis Island experience. Funny thing is, only one of my ancestors did come through Ellis Island, my family first arrived in the 1600s!
Last March when I visited New York, the main thing I wanted to do was visit Ellis Island knowing I'd had relatives that came through it. It's both fascinating and sad. The amount of "inspection" people had to go through was impressive on some levels considering the time, they had a station to test your literacy where they would have you draw a certain shape and how you drew it told them how literate you were. It's definitely a worthwhile tour for anyone interested in not only the history of the processing center but also the establishment of different groups in different cities and how this helped grow New York (and other places like Chicago) into highly culturally diverse areas.
You guys should do an episode on Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. It’s a very cool city at the center of the start of the start of the French and Indian war. The steel factories were internationally renowned as one of the best. Love to see your spin on the city, keep up the great work!
I love Pittsburgh. I had to travel there several times for work and fell in love with it. My ancestors were in the area (settled just outside Mauch Chunk in the 1750's). My 4 times great grandfather lost his entire family to an Indian raid during the French and Indian War. He had a second family with just 2 sons and I am descended from the second. He is also credited with discovering anthracite coal.
I live 2 hours north of the city and made my first visit to Ellis Island 3 years ago. The only thing missing from this video was the abandoned buildings on what I believe is the south side.
I did some work there around 2005 when the Will Smith movie "Hitch" had its primer there and passed through those buildings on my way in and out . I believe they served as the hospital where immigrants were quarantined , mostly for small pox . They were not lighted , had a rat or two clattering about in the dark , and on the evenings when I was the last person off the island they were quite creepy. As best as I could tell they seemed to still be fell of the old beds sealed off with some tattered sheets of plastic. One day I had to dig two 4'×4'×4' holes on the great lawn and was treated with a lesson in history. When they expanded the island back in the day they used a lot of brick rubble as fill and I can attest to the fact that it had settled quite well . It took the better part of 9 hours to dig through it and that was just one hole.
My maternal grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1912 from Imperial Russia, poorly educated and not knowing a word of English. He worked in a steel foundary, married, owned a house, and raised three children. My mom, the city girl, married my dad, the country boy, in 1945, during wartime. They never attended college but understood, and passed along to my brother and me, the value of education. My brother became a physician, and I, a teacher, and I have returned to live and teach in my grandfather's city; my own children are well educated and themselves work as professionals. I am grateful to both my grandfather for his sense of adventure and yearning for a better life than he had, and to our United States for allowing him the opportunity to work hard and raise his family Such is the success of the American Dream: Why my grandfather was allowed admittance, but the same welcome is not given to many newer immigrants, is a question we should be considering. As always, Geophysics Team, thank you for the thoughtful, masterfulfully-told story. Terrific work. Thank you.
My great-grear grandfather came through there in 1898. His name was Adolf Ludwig. He had his 2 yr old son August. August went on to have my grandfather, then father ... now here I am watching UA-cam. I actually found Adolf's entrance in a book on the Ellis Island website.
My great-grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1914. From Annow, Poland, to the port of Hamburg, then to Ellis Island. They changed his name from Andrej Mihilek to Andrew Mehalick. You can buy a reprints of boat manifests from them.
3 out of four of my mom's grandparents came through there from Italy. Along with their entire families. Except for great-grandad who came in via New Orleans... by himself. My grandad eventually met one of his cousins who said his dad had been estranged from the family.
I may be a sentimentalist but I have a hard time making it through stories about Ellis Island with dry eyes. Human history is full of dark and awful places (as this channel often documents), but Ellis Island, at least for a while, radiated with light and hope. I hope for more of these positive essays!
A lot of people in a lot of places glaze over or omit the parts of history they're not proud of - especially when they're better known for something else.
@@Ruby321123 : So true Ruby, so very, very true. I believe it was Spanish philosopher George Santayana who said "Those who don't remember the past are condemned to re live it. Remember to "never forget"! Simon Wiesenthal (sp?)
When my family and I were there we found the name of our great grandfather. It was an astounding moment! My father had imigrated out of the USA though.
Im a 4th generation greek, my great grandparents came through Ellis Island, my Pro Yia Yia lived to be 102 and my Pro Papou wasn’t too far behind, I think in his 90s when he passed. I’m lucky I got to meet them, especially since I never got to meet my Yia Yia who died young of ALS. Im named after her, her name was Catherine Helen, my name is the de-romanized version: Catina Eleni. Although I never learned greek fluently ( the Pro Papou and Pro Yia Yia wanted to be 100% american so they never taught my Yia Yia and in turn my Mom and Nona never learned or taught us) Im extremely proud and happy to have that little bit cultural connection or background and be the 4th generation born in America. Yia Yia: grandma Papou: grandpa Pro Yia Yia/Papou: great grandparents Nona: godmother (my aunt) Sorry I forgot that that might be a bit confusing, at this point those are their names in my head. 😂
The retelling of the path immigrants have to take in the immigration center was the highlight of the video. Absolutely fascinating experience. The huge elephant glaring at you with a fedora and a tommy gun was the funniest line.
I visited Ellis Island for the first time last year and it was really interesting and beautiful to see. My grandparents met during WW 2. My grandfather was in the Air Force and was stationed in London. He met my English grandmother there. They had six children, and all grew up in the United States.
When I was studying Computer Science (back when that meant main frames, not personal computers) I was told that one of the things Ellis Island produced was a sorter. The amount of information that was collected was so vast that it took many clerks and many hours to collect and sort. Mistakes were high as well. A clerk who worked there used his spare time to create a system that used cards with holes punched in them to improve the process. Clerks would ask questions with a/b/c type answers. They would punch a hole in the card corresponding to the answer given. The card only had 80 columns because anything more and the system wouldn't carry the card down a moving band. As the card moved, metal pins would pass over it. Wherever there was a hole, a connection was made and a device pushed that card out of line and into a hopper. They would pass these cards through for each question, thus getting a sort for each question. Now the 80 column card is important to this story because that card was used all the way up to the 1980's to program computers and to load data into the programs. I've been told there are still some troglodytes that still use them. Those 80 columns segued into the standard for data ever since. 8/16/32/64 Anyone who has spent time around a computer will recognize that progression. Having told you all this, I'd like to ask the people here: Does anyone else remember this?
Funny thing: I started with punch card computer programming in 1966, Language FORTRAN IV. I could actually read the punches in the card if it was not printed. Recently, the handlers for the Voyager deep space probes needed to make a course correction. The handlers advertised for FORTRAN IV programmers, the language in use when the probes were launched. The other language was COBOL. Social Security has been stable enough that COBOL is still running. The COVID-19 checks and deposits required reprogramming. COBOL programmers got called out of retirement. Do you also remember the first machine to be controlled by punch cards was the Jacardi loom?
I had the opportunity to visit Ellis Island on a school trip to New York City. While my classmates were excited about it and talked about their familial connections to the facility, it meant nothing to me. First, my ancestors were already established in the US long before the immigration center opened. Second, my ancestors didn't arrive willingly since they were slaves.
Matthew Datcher I hope your older now and can see that your families and those from Europe both shaped who we are as a society. Both groups need to learn the others stories because knowing the past can help influence the future but also it should enrich your experience of life.
Bob Hope was born in England not far from where I was born roughly 60 years later. He was probably doing a USO show in Vietnam for the troops, one of which was my father. After my father’s tour in Vietnam was done he was stationed in England which is how I came to be born there of an English mother and an American father. Years later we moved to New York where my fathers family lived since his grandparents had come through Ellis island. Back in the 1980’s I met Mr Hope in Southern California and discovered we lived in the same neighbourhood, It’s a small world after all. Lol
My great great great grandfather was a dutchman that came over and ended up on Ellis Island. From what I understand they sent his wife and son back for having "consumption". However being the dingbat my Ormerod's still continue being to this day, he stayed on and remarried and ended up having the American side of the family here in the US. Thing I could never wrap my head around is how my ancestors went from Ellis Island to Warwick Rhode Island. That is a bit far away when you supposedly came over with the clothes on your back and not enough money for transportation. On my fathers side my families only claim to fame is their ability to work themselves into a stupor. Which was a good thing back then. All I know about my mothers side of the family is we are french Canadian. They come from a long line of farmers and from what I hear they basically walked over the boarder to get to the US. Much past that the story runs dry because there was so much my Memere was not willing to discuss. Something really bad happened when she was a young child involving her brother and her. Whenever you asked her about her family all she'd ever say is "I'll go to my grave with what my brother did" I know for a while he was pretending to be in the military and his mother was supporting his life in anyway she could....including making my 7 year old memere work. Nobody will say what she was working as. Because of all the secrets long dead family members decided to keep I can't do a family history back further than 2 generations. Hell I only found out my memere had a brother 2 years after her death.
My grandfather was 5 years old and he came there with his mother and brother, they could only speak Hebrew, Russian and Yiddish. From what my grandfather told me about it. It was not a good place but they made it out safely and together. They where able to meet their uncle. Who took them to his place and spent A few months waiting for their father to get there. Then they movie to Indiana.
My Great Grandma age 11 in 1911 came through ellis island Ziegler, Anna from Merczifalva, Hungary on a ship named Amerika. SHe came the US legally not sneaking over, paid her dues along with her mother and siblings, learned English and became a U.S. Citizen in 1942.
My family and I went to New York a few years back and my bestfriend came with us. One of the places we visited was Ellis Island as we both had ancestors who immigrated to America many generations ago and since we both had pictures of their documents with showing their signatures and other information we wanted to see if any of the logs put on display had our fanilies names on them. Incredibly we found records on display of my bestfriends ancestors that immigrated here from Ireland and I found records on display of my own ancestors on my maternal grandmothers side of the family who immigrated here from Italy. It was amazing and we ended up taking pictures of everything.
It's ironic that I visited Ellis Island about 10 days after this video was released. After nearly everyone left the ferry at Liberty Island, my family made our way to the top deck so we could get some snap shots of Lady Liberty. When we arrived at Ellis we had no idea what it was, I originally mistook it for Governors Island due to the impressive architecture. Eager to learn where we were and why it was important we had a look around. We used the computers to find out if any of our relatives had been processed there and looked at most of the exhibits. The place certainly needed more bathrooms.
I owe everything to a young man named Wicenty Lalak, he risked everything and immigrated from Poland to America. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1902 on the SS Blucher and started his American dream. Without his sacrifice, I would not be here today.
Thank you for the video... I absolutely loved visiting Ellis island, it’s magic and have very nice artefacts, clothes, canned foods, so many things to see and visit. A wonderful part of history albeit with cheer or sad moments...
My grandmother immigrated to the US in 1904 with her aunt. Her papers were not in order so they had to stay on Ellis Island for over a week to have proper papers sent from her father in England. It was not very pleasant because they could not use their beds during the day, had very little to do, and only had porridge to eat. After the papers arrived, they then left the Island and moved to Los Angeles. As an aside, they came over in steerage and all they had to eat was peas porridge on the ship. After that, she never ate peas again, but she always had a bowl of peas on the table for others.
I have never been to Ellis Island. My mother's Italian side came first class straight to Boston from Naples however my father's German side came through Ellis Island. My father was just turning 10 years old at the time. They had experience as farmers and they were sponsored in America by a far-right Lutheran church group in Iowa. Just after they arrived they would suffer through the Dust Bowl and the depression yet they would all do well in the long run. They were strong, determined, and hard-working
My paternal grandfather’s parents came from Weimar Germany through Ellis island in the 1920s. They came separately, met and married in America. I think my great-grandfather even landed on his birthday! We still have the boarding record.
Normally wouldn't bother with a "share your story below", but I actually think my family's migration to the United States is decently interesting. Father's side was predominately Scandinavian, gradually migrated to the British Isles over time. Our name is mentioned as far back as the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror, and some records point to our presence during each sacking of Rome. My mother's side, the Bruce's, obviously have major ties to Scottish history. The very, very long and extraordinarily short side of it is that both sides of my family chose the wrong side of different civil wars and internal conflicts that led to us plummet from medieval high society to a loose collection of steel workers and tradesmen in the US around the latter half of the 1700's to the mid 1800's. We've participated in every US war since then and have consistently maintained our pride in not only our origins but our working class mentality and values, whether we obtain large quantities of wealth or not. We're a family of principles and honor, respect, loyalty and hard work and we're proud of that. Yes, we may at one point have been considered "high society", but our multi-generational learning process has taught us that that means absolutely nothing in the face of genuine hard work and stern adherence to proper, down to earth values. I, for one, am proud of that and am proud to be an American, as imperfect as we may be.
My great grandfather and his 9 brothers and their Father came through Ellis Island. I don't remember the date but I believe it was late 19th century. They came over from Ireland. Their descendents make up a large portion of the sir name Donnelly in the US today. When I visited the island 20 years ago or so, we were able to find them listed on the wall of names of immigrants who came through there. I only wish that more US citizens realized the significant changes to immigration policy made over the last century. Entirely too many claim their ancestors came through legally using the system and hate on those who are getting screwed over by the very BROKEN system that exists today.
Ellis Island is one of two places I’ve been that seems to retain the emotions of those before (or maybe it’s ghosts). The other place is the lane on the Antietam Battle Field. (Families beat the revolution so no relatives but still a very special place to visit.)
My great grandfather came from Bruun, Czech? I believe that that's the spelling. That's what I found on the census. Anyway, he didn't go through Ellis Island he went through Galveston Island here in Texas which it was also a huge immigration center and there were so many Czech immigrants that came through Galveston and settled throughout Texas. My Great Grandfather also got tied up with Clyde Barrow from Bonnie and Clyde.. He was an apprentice to great grandfather. Was responsible for much of the growth in the Dallas Fort Worth area bringing business in from other areas, Sorry, for the rant. Anyway, I would love to see you do something on Galveston and the Czech immigrants. Being that you live in the Czech Republic I figured that it might interest you. It really interests me. There is a lot of Czech history and influence here in Texas. I am very proud of my Czech heritage and being a Native Texan! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and Merry Christmas. ~ Stacy Renea Korinek
Ellis island was and is a place of rememberance of so many lives starting a fresh new life. Full of ideals and pride that helped sustain them through rugged hardships and unknown hazards yet to befall them in the new world. Unlike so many finding themselves unwilling to accept a job to better themselves throwing themselves at the mercy of government relief. My ancestors from different parts of Europe strived to make life better for themselves and their families through trial and error they made the New World their new Country. America the land of the free and home if the brave. Yes my heart, and my love for the U.S.A is foremost and without question my home. My family, friends and fellow Americans are testament to the belief hard work and perseverance always makes life worth living and fighting for...God Bless...
Grandpa came thru Ellis in the late 20’s from Italy. He worked and saved for years and sent for my grandma, my dad and uncle. They came in thru Boston in the 30’s. The goal was to escape Mussolini. From Boston it was a train ride across the US to the Kent valley in the state of Washington and right to work on the farm. Italians were looked down on as basically third class citizens. Thru an extremely hard work ethic and thick skin they did well for themselves - there was no government assistance back then, they were on their own after being “sponsored”. Thankfully I got their work ethic and thick skin. The crap I dealt with was a fraction of what they went thru. Whatever success I have today is built in their hard work, trials and tribulations. America is an awesome country if you’re willing to work for it.
Like many Americans, my ancestors came into America through Ellis Island. This was a really cool video because I often think about my 3x great grandparents.
I visited the Statue of Liberty and the immigration Museum last year. It is a very powerful place. Make sure you bring your tissues, because it's hard not to get teary.
When my grandmother came through there from Ireland, it was her parents and her TWENTY siblings. Hearing how hard it was to actually get approved for entry adds a whole new level of appreciation for what she and the rest of her family went through. Thanks for the history lesson!
Back then it was way easier to get approved than it is today.
@@0799qwertzuiop Maybe though. But a family being so lucky to have all twenty kids being accepted as healthy and fit to work some day is pretty damn lucky back in the day.
Wow twenty kids that they kept well. Great job.
My great great grandmother in Galway Ireland had 31 kids! Irish were fertile as fck
@@0799qwertzuiop You might want to reread the history there. The number of immigrants denied entry at Ellis Island was large enough to where it became known as 'the island of tears'.
I took my then 10 year old daughter to Ellis Island in the late 80's. We still talk of that trip as one of the most moving experiences we have ever had. If you are in NYC, go if you can. You will not regret the time you spend there.
I'm not a descendant of an immigrant who came through Ellis Island, my Father's family came from France via Canada and my Mother's ancestors came from Ireland to help build the Erie Canal. I do however, appreciate the hardship and uncertainty that many of the people whose first stop in the new world was Ellis Island, without them America wouldn't be what it is today.
Me too, not Ireland though, Scottland.
My ancestors came from Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and England in the late 1700's
My family also came from France to Canada...the Tatro's
You mean it would be crime free? And Idaho wouldn’t need to grow so many potatoes? Kidding lol
I couldn’t resist the urge for a little immigrant humour lol
I wander if we are related ;-) - my family too came through French Canada and end up on west coast and Alaska with lots of back and forth over the Canadian boarder.
On my mother's side, my Jewish great-great grandfather came to America in 1889. His wife & 4 children (my great-grandfather was the youngest) arrived in 1891. Thanks for educating me that they were processed in the Castle Garden area of Ellis Island. On my father's side, my Danish great-grandfather also arrived at Ellis Island, probably during the period when a lot of Scandinavians came to America since I can't remember the exact year at this moment.
I've been to Ellis Island. It's was both overwhelmingly hopeful in parts, as well as devastatingly heartbreaking in others.
I visited Ellis Island in November 2017. What cannot be underestimated is the scale of the museum, and therefore the amount of information to be viewed on plaques, display cases, through their mini-documentaries and the guided audio tour. My two friends and I spent close to 2 hours there, with a rather lengthy ferry ride there and back, and there was a lot we did not get to see. For anyone wanting to visit, I'd recommend packing a lunch, taking the morning ferry, and plan to make it the day's main event. I'd really like to return to take the tour in the non-renovated section of the island, as although the museum may share characteristics with the original building, it's fresh coat of paint and other tourist-friendly don't really convey the reality of the building's history.
Your words brought my imagination alive. Thank you
I still have the original Ellis Island ink and stamp documents from the first person in my family to immigrate to the US in 1920.
Wow.. that's an amazing family heirloom to have
That is so cool!!!
Nice one. My great grandmother and her family emigrated to the US from Ireland via Ellis Island when she was a teenager/young adult and she settled there for a few years and was engaged and everything. Then a few years later she decided to go back to Ireland on holiday and never returned. Some of her family never spoke to her again because of it.
My great grandparents with their youngest son came to America from Italy in 1909. They made their way to Northern Minnesota so my great grandfather could work in the iron ore mines.
In 1947 my Romanian grandmother came to the US with my soldier grandfather. She said seeing the Statue of Liberty filled her full of hope after just leaving her war ravaged home country.
One of my great grandfathers came over in 1909 from Calabria to work in the Pennsylvania coal mines.
Steve Rossini do you still have family in MN? That’s where my great grandparents ended up too. One set near St. Cloud and the other set way way up north in Babbitt.
All 4 of my great grandparents made it through Ellis Island. 2 Daigos, 1 Limey, 1 Mick. Both great- grandfathers ended up being NYC Firefighters (Different Companies). Both families had a plethora of children. Both my grandfathers fought in WW2. 1 in the Pacific, 1 in Europe.
Great family history...After I read that I said " coooool" out loud...LoL. Your great grandfathers sound freaken awesome so far...Hard working bad asses
your a true american
@A.C. B. ART
"Forgive me, El Guapo. I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior innnnntellect and education"
@@paulfrench7356
Thanks man. Im sure there are many families with similar backgrounds. Ellis Island is a cool spot to visit. If you haven't been there make a point to go.
My paternal grandfather came to America through Canada from Scotland, but I've known so many whose ancestors came through Ellis Island over the years. Joy and tears indeed. Well done! Great presentation! Thank you for the truthfulness!
I love how at the end of your immigration video you casually say and that's what "made America great"
And I love the shade that you throw even though some won't get it.
Simon- want to share my experience here. My family were poor, from the northwest of Ireland. They came in through Ellis Island. One of proud moments of my life was sailing past Lady Liberty and Ellis Island aboard the USS Kearsarge in 2015 for Fleet Week in NYC. I felt connection with my ancestors who gambled everything to see this sight. I wanted them to know that many generations on, one their sons would see the same sight, serving as an officer aboard a celebrated warship of this great experiment we call America. We are the All-Stars of the world and I’m enormously humbled and inspired by the story of American immigration. It is our story. Thank you for making this video!!
My Hungarian great-grandpa came through Ellis Island in 1921, with my great-grandma and then-infant great aunt following in 1923. They met up with my great-grandpa in Indiana where he was working in the Studebaker factory. Can't wait to visit here one day and see it in person. Great video!
Even though I've never been to Ellis island I share a bit of history with it.
My great great grandfather had bought a ticket to the US that was bound to Ellis island. When he was about to board his ship the woman he loved said she couldn't do it.
He tried to persuade her to come but she could not leave her family and home.
For the sake of his girl he stayed.
Had it not been for that one moment, my entire family would not be here.
Dang, that got to me.
where do you come from?
I've been to Ellis Island twice. I was very moved by the experience and had tears in my eyes thinking of the struggles the immigrants went through, which included my maternal grandmother's parents and her older brother and sister. I was able to get copies of the actual records of them coming through there. I'm very proud that my family was part of the heritage of Ellis Island.
My grandmother on my mothers side came over in 1908 with her husband - they were 13/16 respectively from Scotland and got a land grant in Alabama to be farmers. Back then you had to live on the land and work it for 5 years before it was legally yours. It is still in the family and she lived to 101. Grandfather passed at 89. She had 12 children but only 8 made it to adulthood. She all told us what it was like and she was terrified they might be turned away as tuberculosis was common for the Scots coming over.
The homestead act. My family has a homestead property as well. It's in Wyoming. 1889 baby. My grandmother is 95 and technically still owns it. Her grandfather homesteaded it.
I know that I'm coming late to this video, but I have to comment. I went to Ellis Island in 2000 because I'm a history buff and I thought it would be interesting. It was far more than that. As we got off the ferry, I remember telling my sister, "Imagine you're coming here with nothing and can't even speak the language and this huge building is the first thing you see." It was kind of awe-inspiring even to me. We were there for hours (You need to allow hours.) There are so many artifacts and displays. And, frankly, we just sat and absorbed the magnitude of what the place represented. There were lots of surprises, too. One that I remember well was coming around a corner to see a huge banner with a photo of a Japanese family and, being from Seattle, y first thought was "Why would you go the long way around?" So I learned something . I learned a lot. I highly recommend going - even though, as they announced on the ferry, you're not allowed to bring bicycles, skateboards or barbecues with you.
Coming into the Great Hall on the upper floor, the huge vaulted space opening out from the narrow hall leading up to it, is a truly glorious sight.
Bob Hope at a USO performance - "I've got sand in places I didn't know I know I had places."
He was one in a trillion. I laughed so hard when I heard that, his delivery funny in itself.
@@gaylemc2692 He was. He had a book come out in the '70s, and I remember standing in line with my mother and grandmother to get it signed. I think I was... nine? Somewhere around there. At the last minute, for some reason, I was the only one of the three of us to go forward to get it signed. Afterward my mother and grandmother asked me repeatedly what I had said to the man... and for the life of me, I could not remember saying _anything_. But I must have said something amusing, because apparently he laughed quite heartily as he signed the book.
I love it when you use calmer music during the parts inbetween sections, since I typically watch before falling asleep! :) Love the content as always! This was a great video.
I love the fact there's no music behind the narration! Some of his other channels have this annoying quiet but obnoxious same 2 or 3 bars playing over and over in an endless loop. Sounds like a tiny orchestra of rubber bands. I wonder why so many UA-camrs insist on this garbage, when you listen to something like this and realize it is MUCH BETTER without any music at all.
"On the first day of January, 1892. They opened Ellis Island and they let the people through
And the first to cross the Threshold, of that isle of hope and tears
Was Annie Moore from Ireland, who was only 15 years"
Visiting Ellis Island was so much more emotional than I thought it would be. At least three of my great grandparents (possibly four) entered the US through Ellis Island and my grandpa's mom was born the year after her parents and siblings did the same. The mix of emotions they must have faced must have been overwhelming. Joy, relief, and hope after making it to a new country where they would be safer with better opportunities and at the same time worry for the friends and family they left behind and completely heartbroken not because they left (they were happy to escape the pogroms) but because they had to leave.
In the early 1990s. It was right after desert Storm. We had been overseas for over a year.
Even though only one guy in my entire unit grew up in New York. When we passed Lady Liberty, we all knew we were home.
I'm from L.A. and didn't make it to NYC until my 40th year, but everyone really should see the Statue of Liberty. It is absolutely striking up close, and no photo or video has ever done it justice. Thanks France!
My Mother was one of the last to immigrate there on her ship from Germany
Thats awesome. My great grandmother came from Scotland when she was little. Best story tellers of the country are immigrants that remember the trip.
Johnny Says indeed
@@Linwinky in the early 20s i believe.
Post WWII In the 50’s
@@acepilot1 operation paper clip? Lol
what a nice sweater you're wearing Simon. When I lived in San Francisco, I worse lots of sweaters, then I moved to Puerto Rico and never needed one. Now, living in Tucson, AZ, I only need one about 1 week a year. The warm weather here is getting warmer every winter along with the decreasing rainfall. It's November and I am still wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts. Occasionally, I wear sweat pants or a sweat shirt and about one week a year, I need a coat and need to wear my jeans. When I lived in the Bay Area, we went to Angel Island, the West Coast Ellis Island with lots of history as well. It is the port where most of the Asian newcomers were processed (as well as others) .. The history you can see there is wonderful and the island is absolutely beautiful.
Both sets of maternal Great-Grand Parents came through Ellis Island. Austria, Germany, Poland & Lithuania in the late 1890's.
One Granddad was a cobbler, the other a furniture maker. Both settled outside Chicago.
Now the paternal side has been an effort, looks like one side came over via Canada and settled first in Michigan, Great-Great-Grandfather served in the civil war, the other side also came through Ellis from Austria/Germany area.
hey Simon can we hope for a GEOGRAPHICS from the silk road?
YES YES YES (With a nod to the modern one as well!)
...me likie that idea B.B....
What about the great wall?
0:55 - Chapter 1 - Oysters, Pirates & Gunpowder
5:05 - Chapter 2 - Founding the immigration station
10:30 - Chapter 3 - Coming to ellis island
15:05 - Chapter 4 - The people of ellis island
19:00 - Chapter 5 - From annie to arne
21:00 - Chapter 6 - Ellis island today
Thank you, Simon, the video was excellent! It feels good to hear a non-American appreciate and commemorate the struggles to legally immigrate back then and to happily assimilate and work hard to achieve the American Dream. America has it's flaws, no doubt, but people with dreams and ideas can make anything happen here.
Although my parents moved to the US from the UK in 1980, it was staggering to see my great great uncle's name in the registry on Ellis island. I was blessed to play with my high school concert band on the lawn in front of the immigration center in 1999
"May mix up your suname with your hometown..."
That happened to my grandfather from Italy!!!
HE Went through Elis Island as a 16 year old kid :)
Its why Palermo is such a popular name. Its the capital of Sicily.
They misspelled my families name, Sjödin became schoedin or Sheedin or Sjoedean... same family 3 surnames.
Vito Corleone?
I mean, a lot of people didn't have surnames depending on where you were from.
@@ES-fr3yz Vyto Car-Le-On
A trip to Ellis Island is surprisingly inspiring!
While immigrants were subjected to a medical inspection, as the video says, the number of people rejected was low, about 2% (and you could appeal the rejection)-most people, about 80%, went through the process in a few hours. And there was no paperwork-at the peak of immigration in 1907, passports were not in existence-inspectors were matching the person’s name against the ship’s manifest, nothing more. Interpreters, who had to pass a federal civil service exam in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension, were on hand-the common languages were Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Slovak, German, Yiddish, French, Greek, Hungarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian, Romanian, Swedish, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Czech, Spanish, Armenian, Arabic, Dutch, Norwegian and Chinese. Later NYC mayor Fiorello LaGuardia worked at Ellis Island as an interpreter certified for Italian, German, Yiddish and Croatian from 1907 to 1910. It was, for the most part, a very humane process, unlike what happened on the West Coast at Angel Island.
When I was in 6th grade, my entire class had to do an Ellis Island project, where we got assigned characters immigrating to the US, then turned the library into the immigration center, where we went through all the steps you listed in the video. Little me though, I was so dedicated to my character, I brought all this crap I thought she would have, and I wrapped it up in a blanket because I figured she wouldn't own a suitcase? Anyway, it was a miserable experience, so hot, standing in line all day, my bag just kept getting heavier and heavier. And in that aspect, it was a very authentic Ellis Island experience. Funny thing is, only one of my ancestors did come through Ellis Island, my family first arrived in the 1600s!
Absolutely one of the best of the Geographics videos. Utterly fascinating.
Last March when I visited New York, the main thing I wanted to do was visit Ellis Island knowing I'd had relatives that came through it. It's both fascinating and sad. The amount of "inspection" people had to go through was impressive on some levels considering the time, they had a station to test your literacy where they would have you draw a certain shape and how you drew it told them how literate you were. It's definitely a worthwhile tour for anyone interested in not only the history of the processing center but also the establishment of different groups in different cities and how this helped grow New York (and other places like Chicago) into highly culturally diverse areas.
You guys should do an episode on Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. It’s a very cool city at the center of the start of the start of the French and Indian war. The steel factories were internationally renowned as one of the best. Love to see your spin on the city, keep up the great work!
I Think My Dog Is a Cat Cincinnati is BETTER!!! ;-)
I love Pittsburgh. I had to travel there several times for work and fell in love with it. My ancestors were in the area (settled just outside Mauch Chunk in the 1750's). My 4 times great grandfather lost his entire family to an Indian raid during the French and Indian War. He had a second family with just 2 sons and I am descended from the second. He is also credited with discovering anthracite coal.
@StaticImage Steelers are better than Bengals my guy
And it's the home of Rocky Balboa.
I live 2 hours north of the city and made my first visit to Ellis Island 3 years ago. The only thing missing from this video was the abandoned buildings on what I believe is the south side.
I did some work there around 2005 when the Will Smith movie "Hitch" had its primer there and passed through those buildings on my way in and out . I believe they served as the hospital where immigrants were quarantined , mostly for small pox . They were not lighted , had a rat or two clattering about in the dark , and on the evenings when I was the last person off the island they were quite creepy. As best as I could tell they seemed to still be fell of the old beds sealed off with some tattered sheets of plastic. One day I had to dig two 4'×4'×4' holes on the great lawn and was treated with a lesson in history. When they expanded the island back in the day they used a lot of brick rubble as fill and I can attest to the fact that it had settled quite well . It took the better part of 9 hours to dig through it and that was just one hole.
My maternal grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1912 from Imperial Russia, poorly educated and not knowing a word of English. He worked in a steel foundary, married, owned a house, and raised three children.
My mom, the city girl, married my dad, the country boy, in 1945, during wartime. They never attended college but understood, and passed along to my brother and me, the value of education.
My brother became a physician, and I, a teacher, and I have returned to live and teach in my grandfather's city; my own children are well educated and themselves work as professionals.
I am grateful to both my grandfather for his sense of adventure and yearning for a better life than he had, and to our United States for allowing him the opportunity to work hard and raise his family
Such is the success of the American Dream: Why my grandfather was allowed admittance, but the same welcome is not given to many newer immigrants, is a question we should be considering.
As always, Geophysics Team, thank you for the thoughtful, masterfulfully-told story. Terrific work. Thank you.
My great-grear grandfather came through there in 1898. His name was Adolf Ludwig. He had his 2 yr old son August. August went on to have my grandfather, then father ... now here I am watching UA-cam. I actually found Adolf's entrance in a book on the Ellis Island website.
Never expected a Scooby-Doo reference!
My great-grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1914. From Annow, Poland, to the port of Hamburg, then to Ellis Island. They changed his name from Andrej Mihilek to Andrew Mehalick. You can buy a reprints of boat manifests from them.
Both sides of my Grandparents came through there. From Calabria, Italy on my mother's side and County Cork, Ireland on my father's side.
3 out of four of my mom's grandparents came through there from Italy. Along with their entire families. Except for great-grandad who came in via New Orleans... by himself. My grandad eventually met one of his cousins who said his dad had been estranged from the family.
I may be a sentimentalist but I have a hard time making it through stories about Ellis Island with dry eyes. Human history is full of dark and awful places (as this channel often documents), but Ellis Island, at least for a while, radiated with light and hope.
I hope for more of these positive essays!
I visited the island when I was twelve. I took the audio tour yet I don’t remember anything about it being used as a detention center during wartime.
Yeah I doubt at 12 they're giving you all the details you wouldnt care or even take it all in but just my opinion.
@@ScoobyShotU : Yeah, my thoughts as well.
A lot of people in a lot of places glaze over or omit the parts of history they're not proud of - especially when they're better known for something else.
@@Ruby321123 : So true Ruby, so very, very true. I believe it was Spanish philosopher George Santayana who said "Those who don't remember the past are condemned to re live it. Remember to "never forget"!
Simon Wiesenthal (sp?)
When my family and I were there we found the name of our great grandfather. It was an astounding moment! My father had imigrated out of the USA though.
I love how Simon encourages us to leave any story we might have of our ancestors immigrating through Ellus Island.
A much lighter video. Very nice. And, again, that ending line was just great. I appreciated this one quite a bit.
Glad you enjoyed it :)
Great episode!
Several members of my family came through those walls to find a better lifer here in America. Thanks for doing this video, well done!
My great grandpa, Vito Cinquepalmi came to America via Ellis Island from Bari, Italy. 🇮🇹
My grandparents went through Ellis from Holland. I need to ask them more about it.
Thank you .
What a wonderful episode! An amazing story. Thank you, Simon and Danny, et al.
Im a 4th generation greek, my great grandparents came through Ellis Island, my Pro Yia Yia lived to be 102 and my Pro Papou wasn’t too far behind, I think in his 90s when he passed. I’m lucky I got to meet them, especially since I never got to meet my Yia Yia who died young of ALS. Im named after her, her name was Catherine Helen, my name is the de-romanized version: Catina Eleni. Although I never learned greek fluently ( the Pro Papou and Pro Yia Yia wanted to be 100% american so they never taught my Yia Yia and in turn my Mom and Nona never learned or taught us) Im extremely proud and happy to have that little bit cultural connection or background and be the 4th generation born in America.
Yia Yia: grandma
Papou: grandpa
Pro Yia Yia/Papou: great grandparents
Nona: godmother (my aunt)
Sorry I forgot that that might be a bit confusing, at this point those are their names in my head. 😂
The retelling of the path immigrants have to take in the immigration center was the highlight of the video. Absolutely fascinating experience.
The huge elephant glaring at you with a fedora and a tommy gun was the funniest line.
I'm still laughing at the surprise oyster in the first few minutes...
Helloooo
I visited Ellis Island for the first time last year and it was really interesting and beautiful to see. My grandparents met during WW 2. My grandfather was in the Air Force and was stationed in London. He met my English grandmother there. They had six children, and all grew up in the United States.
When I was studying Computer Science (back when that meant main frames, not personal computers) I was told that one of the things Ellis Island produced was a sorter. The amount of information that was collected was so vast that it took many clerks and many hours to collect and sort. Mistakes were high as well. A clerk who worked there used his spare time to create a system that used cards with holes punched in them to improve the process. Clerks would ask questions with a/b/c type answers. They would punch a hole in the card corresponding to the answer given. The card only had 80 columns because anything more and the system wouldn't carry the card down a moving band. As the card moved, metal pins would pass over it. Wherever there was a hole, a connection was made and a device pushed that card out of line and into a hopper. They would pass these cards through for each question, thus getting a sort for each question.
Now the 80 column card is important to this story because that card was used all the way up to the 1980's to program computers and to load data into the programs. I've been told there are still some troglodytes that still use them. Those 80 columns segued into the standard for data ever since. 8/16/32/64 Anyone who has spent time around a computer will recognize that progression.
Having told you all this, I'd like to ask the people here: Does anyone else remember this?
Funny thing: I started with punch card computer programming in 1966, Language FORTRAN IV. I could actually read the punches in the card if it was not printed. Recently, the handlers for the Voyager deep space probes needed to make a course correction. The handlers advertised for FORTRAN IV programmers, the language in use when the probes were launched. The other language was COBOL. Social Security has been stable enough that COBOL is still running. The COVID-19 checks and deposits required reprogramming. COBOL programmers got called out of retirement. Do you also remember the first machine to be controlled by punch cards was the Jacardi loom?
I had the opportunity to visit Ellis Island on a school trip to New York City. While my classmates were excited about it and talked about their familial connections to the facility, it meant nothing to me. First, my ancestors were already established in the US long before the immigration center opened. Second, my ancestors didn't arrive willingly since they were slaves.
Matthew Datcher I hope your older now and can see that your families and those from Europe both shaped who we are as a society. Both groups need to learn the others stories because knowing the past can help influence the future but also it should enrich your experience of life.
who sold your family members to the slave owners ? their fellow country men
This was a really interesting topic, great video .
I can't imagine how overwhelming it must have been to go through an experience like Ellis Island. Those were brave people.
"... made America great."
I see what you did there. 😁🇺🇸
Some are ought to be reminded that in america
Bob Hope was born in England not far from where I was born roughly 60 years later. He was probably doing a USO show in Vietnam for the troops, one of which was my father. After my father’s tour in Vietnam was done he was stationed in England which is how I came to be born there of an English mother and an American father. Years later we moved to New York where my fathers family lived since his grandparents had come through Ellis island. Back in the 1980’s I met Mr Hope in Southern California and discovered we lived in the same neighbourhood, It’s a small world after all. Lol
Great video!!
The mix of TROTS in this episode is beautiful. Loved it.
I would like to see a video for how Australian imigration went during the same time. My parents were immigrants.
i visited the museum... it was awesome! as in truly, awe-inspiring. amazing. a must see
I have enjoyed numerous episodes of the presentations by Simon Whistler, but this is an exceptional episode. Bravo!
Really enjoy the vids man, keep it up!!!
My great great great grandfather was a dutchman that came over and ended up on Ellis Island. From what I understand they sent his wife and son back for having "consumption". However being the dingbat my Ormerod's still continue being to this day, he stayed on and remarried and ended up having the American side of the family here in the US. Thing I could never wrap my head around is how my ancestors went from Ellis Island to Warwick Rhode Island. That is a bit far away when you supposedly came over with the clothes on your back and not enough money for transportation. On my fathers side my families only claim to fame is their ability to work themselves into a stupor. Which was a good thing back then. All I know about my mothers side of the family is we are french Canadian. They come from a long line of farmers and from what I hear they basically walked over the boarder to get to the US. Much past that the story runs dry because there was so much my Memere was not willing to discuss. Something really bad happened when she was a young child involving her brother and her. Whenever you asked her about her family all she'd ever say is "I'll go to my grave with what my brother did" I know for a while he was pretending to be in the military and his mother was supporting his life in anyway she could....including making my 7 year old memere work. Nobody will say what she was working as. Because of all the secrets long dead family members decided to keep I can't do a family history back further than 2 generations. Hell I only found out my memere had a brother 2 years after her death.
My grandfather was 5 years old and he came there with his mother and brother, they could only speak Hebrew, Russian and Yiddish.
From what my grandfather told me about it. It was not a good place but they made it out safely and together. They where able to meet their uncle. Who took them to his place and spent A few months waiting for their father to get there.
Then they movie to Indiana.
My Great Grandma age 11 in 1911 came through ellis island Ziegler, Anna from Merczifalva, Hungary on a ship named Amerika. SHe came the US legally not sneaking over, paid her dues along with her mother and siblings, learned English and became a U.S. Citizen in 1942.
My family and I went to New York a few years back and my bestfriend came with us. One of the places we visited was Ellis Island as we both had ancestors who immigrated to America many generations ago and since we both had pictures of their documents with showing their signatures and other information we wanted to see if any of the logs put on display had our fanilies names on them. Incredibly we found records on display of my bestfriends ancestors that immigrated here from Ireland and I found records on display of my own ancestors on my maternal grandmothers side of the family who immigrated here from Italy. It was amazing and we ended up taking pictures of everything.
It's ironic that I visited Ellis Island about 10 days after this video was released. After nearly everyone left the ferry at Liberty Island, my family made our way to the top deck so we could get some snap shots of Lady Liberty. When we arrived at Ellis we had no idea what it was, I originally mistook it for Governors Island due to the impressive architecture. Eager to learn where we were and why it was important we had a look around. We used the computers to find out if any of our relatives had been processed there and looked at most of the exhibits. The place certainly needed more bathrooms.
I owe everything to a young man named Wicenty Lalak, he risked everything and immigrated from Poland to America. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1902 on the SS Blucher and started his American dream. Without his sacrifice, I would not be here today.
I've been fortunate enough to visit the Ellis Island visitor center a couple of times. It's a fascinating place with an aura of history around it.
Seeing the building and taking the tour was awesome.
Thank you for the video... I absolutely loved visiting Ellis island, it’s magic and have very nice artefacts, clothes, canned foods, so many things to see and visit. A wonderful part of history albeit with cheer or sad moments...
You always show me stuff I didn't know. Thanks for your work 🙏
My grandmother immigrated to the US in 1904 with her aunt. Her papers were not in order so they had to stay on Ellis Island for over a week to have proper papers sent from her father in England. It was not very pleasant because they could not use their beds during the day, had very little to do, and only had porridge to eat. After the papers arrived, they then left the Island and moved to Los Angeles. As an aside, they came over in steerage and all they had to eat was peas porridge on the ship. After that, she never ate peas again, but she always had a bowl of peas on the table for others.
Thank you Geo Team. I really got a lot for this video. Great research and personal stories. It was really great.
I have never been to Ellis Island. My mother's Italian side came first class straight to Boston from Naples however my father's German side came through Ellis Island. My father was just turning 10 years old at the time. They had experience as farmers and they were sponsored in America by a far-right Lutheran church group in Iowa. Just after they arrived they would suffer through the Dust Bowl and the depression yet they would all do well in the long run. They were strong, determined, and hard-working
My paternal grandfather’s parents came from Weimar Germany through Ellis island in the 1920s. They came separately, met and married in America. I think my great-grandfather even landed on his birthday! We still have the boarding record.
Normally wouldn't bother with a "share your story below", but I actually think my family's migration to the United States is decently interesting. Father's side was predominately Scandinavian, gradually migrated to the British Isles over time. Our name is mentioned as far back as the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror, and some records point to our presence during each sacking of Rome. My mother's side, the Bruce's, obviously have major ties to Scottish history. The very, very long and extraordinarily short side of it is that both sides of my family chose the wrong side of different civil wars and internal conflicts that led to us plummet from medieval high society to a loose collection of steel workers and tradesmen in the US around the latter half of the 1700's to the mid 1800's. We've participated in every US war since then and have consistently maintained our pride in not only our origins but our working class mentality and values, whether we obtain large quantities of wealth or not. We're a family of principles and honor, respect, loyalty and hard work and we're proud of that. Yes, we may at one point have been considered "high society", but our multi-generational learning process has taught us that that means absolutely nothing in the face of genuine hard work and stern adherence to proper, down to earth values. I, for one, am proud of that and am proud to be an American, as imperfect as we may be.
My great grandfather and his 9 brothers and their Father came through Ellis Island. I don't remember the date but I believe it was late 19th century. They came over from Ireland. Their descendents make up a large portion of the sir name Donnelly in the US today. When I visited the island 20 years ago or so, we were able to find them listed on the wall of names of immigrants who came through there.
I only wish that more US citizens realized the significant changes to immigration policy made over the last century. Entirely too many claim their ancestors came through legally using the system and hate on those who are getting screwed over by the very BROKEN system that exists today.
Simon's impressions are wild in this one
Ellis Island is one of two places I’ve been that seems to retain the emotions of those before (or maybe it’s ghosts). The other place is the lane on the Antietam Battle Field. (Families beat the revolution so no relatives but still a very special place to visit.)
I just watched your Suez Canal video and learned about the statue of liberty...so I had to check out this one next...fascinating videos!
My great grandfather came from Bruun, Czech? I believe that that's the spelling. That's what I found on the census. Anyway, he didn't go through Ellis Island he went through Galveston Island here in Texas which it was also a huge immigration center and there were so many Czech immigrants that came through Galveston and settled throughout Texas. My Great Grandfather also got tied up with Clyde Barrow from Bonnie and Clyde.. He was an apprentice to great grandfather. Was responsible for much of the growth in the Dallas Fort Worth area bringing business in from other areas, Sorry, for the rant. Anyway, I would love to see you do something on Galveston and the Czech immigrants. Being that you live in the Czech Republic I figured that it might interest you. It really interests me. There is a lot of Czech history and influence here in Texas. I am very proud of my Czech heritage and being a Native Texan! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and Merry Christmas. ~ Stacy Renea Korinek
Ellis island was and is a place of rememberance of so many lives starting a fresh new life. Full of ideals and pride that helped sustain them through rugged hardships and unknown hazards yet to befall them in the new world. Unlike so many finding themselves unwilling to accept a job to better themselves throwing themselves at the mercy of government relief. My ancestors from different parts of Europe strived to make life better for themselves and their families through trial and error they made the New World their new Country. America the land of the free and home if the brave. Yes my heart, and my love for the U.S.A is foremost and without question my home. My family, friends and fellow Americans are testament to the belief hard work and perseverance always makes life worth living and fighting for...God Bless...
Love you’re New Channel, as a History Buff I find it extremely interesting @ well done & Thank you!
Grandpa came thru Ellis in the late 20’s from Italy. He worked and saved for years and sent for my grandma, my dad and uncle. They came in thru Boston in the 30’s. The goal was to escape Mussolini.
From Boston it was a train ride across the US to the Kent valley in the state of Washington and right to work on the farm. Italians were looked down on as basically third class citizens. Thru an extremely hard work ethic and thick skin they did well for themselves - there was no government assistance back then, they were on their own after being “sponsored”.
Thankfully I got their work ethic and thick skin. The crap I dealt with was a fraction of what they went thru. Whatever success I have today is built in their hard work, trials and tribulations.
America is an awesome country if you’re willing to work for it.
You should also do Angel Island, very different place
what's different about it?
It’s raining heavy facts from hurricane Simon on UA-cam right now
Like many Americans, my ancestors came into America through Ellis Island. This was a really cool video because I often think about my 3x great grandparents.
2:49 That Scooby-Doo reference!! I'm ashamed I only got that after like 15 seconds lol
I am a descendant of an Irish immigrant and we still have family reunions every year for over 70 years.
I visited the Statue of Liberty and the immigration Museum last year.
It is a very powerful place.
Make sure you bring your tissues, because it's hard not to get teary.