The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

With its doors first opening in 1892, Ellis Island was America's biggest site of immigration until 1924. More than 12 million people came through Ellis Island's doors looking to make the United States their new home until the facility closed in 1954. About 40 percent of today's population in America is thought to have ancestors who came through Ellis Island. The Ellis Island Museum opened in 1990 and tells the stories of the immigrants who sought a new life in America. Here are some of the "must see" items at The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. The Ellis Island documentary: Island of Hope, Island of Tears The interactive World Migration Globe Combine your visit to Ellis Island with a ferry trip to the Statue of Liberty