Ellis Island opened on January 1, 1892 , Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island , a small island in New York Harbor . Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off the New Jersey coast, within the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. Today, over 40 percent of America 's population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island . During the island's 62 years of operation many notable people came through Ellis Island such as: Frank Capra, Bela Lugosi, Baron Von Trapp, Irving Berlin, Max Factor, Xavier Cugat, Rudolph Valentino, Igor Sikorsky and Bob Hope.
The main building was restored after 30 years of abandonment and opened as a museum on September 10, 1990