Before Ellis: Castle Garden Immigration Depot

Eric Ott, a National Park Service ranger and immigration historian serving at the Castle Clinton National Monument Immigrant Depot in Battery Park New York City recorded a program of interest for those whose ancestors entered the U.S. in New York City before Ellis Island.

Eric discussed the history of Castle Garden and the immigrant experiences. His presentation included old photos and illustrations of the Castle Garden facilities as well as groups of immigrants going through the process of entering and getting registered at the facility. Eric also described conditions on ships carrying the immigrants and conditions at Castle Garden.

Castle Garden is a former fort and opera house that was converted into the nation’s first immigration center in 1855. Before Castle Garden there were no limitations or registration of immigrants coming into the United States. Approximately seventy percent of all immigration was coming into New York City in the late 19th century. Because there was no organized facility to welcome immigrants and prepare them for entering the country, many unscrupulous people took advantage of immigrants. Various aid societies organized to help immigrants were overwhelmed and begged the state for assistance, thus the Commission of Immigration was formed and opened Castle Garden. 

Most immigrants in the 1870s and 1880s came from western and northern Europe – mainly Germans, Irish and English although lesser numbers of French, Dutch, Scottish and others also made the harrowing trip. About 8 million people were processed through Castle Garden during the time that the facility operated, from 1855 to 1890. Before the advent of steamships in the 1880s the voyage on sailing ships could be 6-8 weeks. On steamships that trip was reduced to one or two weeks. Nonetheless the ships were very crowded and unsanitary. 

Once ships arrived in New York harbor they were quarantined aboard for a week off Staten Island in an attempt to ward off infectious diseases. After quarantine immigrants were inspected by doctors for any major health concerns before being ferried over to Castle Garden. While disembarking the immigrants received a secret second medical inspection as they were herded down the wharf and into the rear entrance to Castle Garden. Upon entering the building immigrants were greeted with chaos – a very crowded and smelly room overflowing with people shouting in many different languages. 

Once inside immigrants were prodded into two lines to a large desk – one line for English speakers and a second line for others. All immigrants were asked the same questions – name, occupation, nationality, family, destination, money, etc. Baggage was taken to a separate location and stored up to seven days. A complex system was used to identify and track each person’s possessions. Once registered immigrants could visit the exchange office to convert their money to U.S. money and also visit the railroad office to obtain tickets west or elsewhere if not staying in the city. Approximately 60% of immigrants traveled west. 

Before immigrants could leave the main facility, they had to have a bath because most had not bathed for weeks because of the long journey to the land of their dreams. When immigrants left the main facility, they entered a second section that housed a medical facility, information station, baggage depot and the Labor Bureau. People that were or became sick could be treated at the medical facility, sicker patients were ferried to a separate facility. The information station was a place where immigrants could reunite with friends and relatives, find lodging in the city and hopefully find answers to their other questions. The Labor Bureau helped immigrants find jobs if they did not have one. 

Public sentiment began to change towards immigrants in the 1880s as more immigrants came, especially from areas different than before such as from Russia and eastern and southern Europe. As a result, the United States government took over immigration handling and opened Ellis Island in 1892. After Ellis Island opened immigration began to be more restricted and controlled.

Visit the Castle Garden National Parks website...