Ellis Island and the Early Days of Film
| February 4, 2022
The immigrant experience at Ellis Island was carefully documented by filmmakers, with some of the most notable footage dating back to 1903.
These scenes include a woman holding a child and waving an American flag, a man with two infants in a crowd of families posing for the camera, immigrants streaming off the boat at Ellis Island, and women staring at the Statue of Liberty.
Be on the lookout for these clips, which are often featured in documentaries about Ellis Island and European immigration. You might even spot a family member in the crowds; after all, about 30 percent of Americans can trace at least one ancestor through Ellis Island.
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