Under normal circumstance , Ellis Island is a piazza for guests to see about the history of immigration in New York City and potentially plunge into their own household ’s past . The site is currently closed due to theCOVID-19crisis , but that does n’t stand for its record are off - limit to the world . With Ellis Island’sonline passenger database , you’re able to view historical in-migration documents go out back to the 19th C .

According to theDowntown Alliance , approximately 12 million people immigrate to the U.S. throughEllis Islandbetween 1892 and 1954 . If a branch of your family tree landed in the country during this period , the move may be document on the Ellis Island Foundation’sdatabase .

To expend the tool , make a free accounting and search for your last name . If you know the full name of a congenator who may have kick the bucket through the island , you’re able to input that too . Your lookup will play up the name , birthplace , arrival date , and ship manifest of anyone who touch the information .

Millions of immigrants came through Ellis Island.

While the prick will tell you who in the database divvy up your last name , it ca n’t affirm if they ’re related to you or not . For that , you ’ll require to reach out to your honest-to-goodness surviving congeneric . A family tree project is a great excuse to schedule a video chat with grandparents , aunts , and uncle and learn more about your phratry Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at the same time . When ask surviving crime syndicate member about late relatives , theDowntown Alliancerecommends induce specifics like eld , full names , and possible nicknames .

Browsing Ellis Island ’s database is an easy first step into the world of genealogy . Here are somesecrets of genealogiststo know if you ’re concerned in the subject .

[ h / tDowntown Alliance ]