Ellis Island Ellis Island has a long and exciting . History was the "Gateway to America" from 1892 until it closed in 1954, The island was called Gull Island by the Indians and Oyster Island by the Dutch people. Later the English made it a place for hanging criminals and so the island became known as Gibbet Island. The Indians sold it to the Dutch East India Company for trinkets. The company later sold it to Mynheer Paauw …showed first 75 words of 423 total…

…showed last 75 words of 423 total…that brought them here. Even though only 2 percent of those coming to America were turned away at Ellis Island that came out to over 250000 people whose hopes and dreams turned to tears and messed up lives. Ellis Island has’nt effected my life tramendusly but it did effect it slightly in ways of my ancestors might have came through it. It was the “Gateway to America”, it was needed, and it was built. Ellis Island.