From 1880 to 1924, Ellis Island acted as the primary gateway into the United States with over 18 million immigrants passing through it.

Many Americans can trace their heritage back to this island in the New York City harbor. On any given day as many as 10,000 immigrants passed through the doors of this immigration reception center.

Ellis Island primarily served as an inspection area to determine the suitability of the incoming immigrants based on medical and social criteria. Immediately upon entering, doctors inspected immigrants for any signs of contagious diseases and other physical or mental ailments. Even the stairs placed in the building served as a physical test to see which individuals might be forced to stop climbing due to shortness of breath, while the long hallways allowed doctors to observe the posture and gait of each immigrant.

Once given a clean bill of health, immigrants might then be asked questions such as "Why have you come to America?," "What do you do for a living?," or "How much money do you have?" to determine whether or not they could support themselves after entering the United States.

Ellis Island proved to be a place of great joy as well as heartache, where many immigrants reunited with loved ones they had followed to America. However, some immigrants failed to pass the inspections and their loved ones often made the difficult decision to continue without the family member denied entry to the United States.

For many, Ellis Island operated as their gateway into a new world of opportunities and liberties. The fresh start and new freedoms America promised these immigrants are what enticed them to brave the treacherous journey to the United States and endure the intensive inspection process that took place at Ellis Island.