Whether your family came through Ellis Island or another point of entry, finding your family’s records is a powerful experience. We invite you to explore our Arrival Records Collection and start uncovering your family’s story by clicking HERE!
If you would like help with the search, try our Family Records Search service. Members at the VOYAGE level and above receive one session. You will be teamed with one of our research experts to help start you on your genealogical journey!
In 2001, the Foundation opened a family history center in the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island. The Foundation’s database, the Arrival Records Collection, contains records for points of entry across the U.S.—Ellis Island and New York, but also Massachusetts, Florida, Hawaii, California, and more–spanning the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The database is available to the public at the Records Discovery Center on Ellis Island and free online at www.StatueOfLiberty.org/arrival-search/.
To prepare for your search and ensure best results, we recommend gathering as much information as you can. Helpful details include: their first and last names; approximate year of arrival; approximate year of birth; where they arrived (Boston, Hawaii, etc.); and whether they traveled with other family members. While not all of this information is required for a successful search, having some knowledge about your ancestor’s arrival is very useful. If you find an error that you believe needs correcting, please follow these instructions to submit.
For those arriving by sea or air, arrival records were filled out at the point of departure. For those crossing the United States border, the record would be filled out at the Border Crossing Station.
While clerical errors were possible, immigrants were not given new names upon arrival.
Be sure to search the ethnic spelling of your ancestor’s name. For example, an Italian immigrant you knew as “Joseph” will likely be listed as “Giuseppe.” A Hungarian woman named “Susan” might be listed as “Zsuzsanna.” The same applies for men, women, and children.
Want to take a tour through your family’s history? Start the process of determining your heritage by playing genealogist at home. Our guides and references can help you find the information you need to find answers and connect to your roots.
The immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island made a profound impact on our culture and society. They made contributions to business, science, and culture – and today, a number of them are counted among our most celebrated citizens.
Hear the story of American immigration from the people who lived it. Our comprehensive Oral History Project contains interviews from all corners of the island’s history helping modern visitors walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.
