Ellis Island: Site of Picnics, War, and Immigration
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was once the main immigration station for people
entering the United States. About a third of Americans can trace their ancestry to this
entry point. Today Ellis Island is a museum accessible by ferryboat.
The island is named for Samuel Ellis, a wealthy colonial landholder. He once owned the
land and used it as a picnic area. When selling the island, Ellis advertised it along with
several other items he had for sale, including a few barrels of excellent shad and
herrings and a large Pleasure Sleigh, almost new.
The U.S. War Department purchased the island for $10,000 in 1808. They built defenses
there in the buildup to the War of 1812. Fort Gibson was erected to house prisoners of
that conflict. Fifty years later during the Civil War, the Union army used the fort as a
munitions arsenal.
When the Civil War ended, Ellis Island was abandoned for twenty-five years. Then, in
1890, the government wanted a new immigration processing center. (This would replace
the Castle Garden Immigration Depot, the countrys first immigration station, which was
located on the tip of Manhattan.) Ellis Island opened in 1892 as the main processing point
for newcomers; at the time, about 70% of all immigrants passed through the island
facilities.
The first immigrant processed was Annie Moore, a teenager from Ireland who was
meeting her parents in New York. (She received a $10 gold coin!) The Ellis Island staff
continued to process immigrant steamship passengers until 1954, when the last immigrant
was the Norwegian merchant seaman Arne Peterssen. In the more than six decades of
operation, the immigration building on Ellis Island saw more than 12 million hopeful
immigrants. After 1954, the building was not attended to for about thirty years. It was
eventually refurbished in the late 1980s and re-opened as a museum in 1990. It is now
under jurisdiction of the US National Park Service.
Immigrants experiences on Ellis Island differed with social class. Wealthier immigrants
who traveled first or second class generally entered automatically without delay. Third-
class steerage passengers had medical exams and interviews. In the end, about two
percent were sent back across the ocean after these procedures. With these people in
mind, Ellis is also known as The Island of Tears and or Heartbreak Island.
Standard interviews included twenty-nine questions, including name, skills, and amount
of money available. Adults who seemed likely to become a public charge would be
turned away. The medical exams on Ellis Island were brief; they usually lasted only six
seconds! However, people who appeared ill received much more attention. Chalk
markings were put on their clothes to indicate suspected medical conditions. People who
didnt discreetly remove these markings were typically sent home or to the islands
hospital. About three thousand people travelers died in Ellis Islands hospital.
The United States enacted Quota Laws in 1924. These restricted immigration and
resulted in most processing being performed at embassies and consulates instead of
freestanding immigration stations. After 1924 Ellis Island was only sporadically used to
see war refugees and displaced persons. The island was used for Japanese internment and
to house German Americans accused of being Nazis.
Ellis Island was once the subject of a border dispute between New York and New Jersey.
Today the two states have divided ownership of the historic site: the main building
containing the museum is part of New York, and the old hospital buildings are part of
New Jersey. The monument has been managed and preserved by the National Park
Service since 1966.
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Tag: Ireland
The White House
Sixteen-hundred Pennsylvania Avenue is among the most famous addresses in the United States. The 132-room home and workplace has also been known as the Presidents House and the Executive Mansion, but since 1902 its officially been called the White House.
When George Washington was President, government meetings were held in various cities. He and Martha Washington kept two homes in New York and one in Pennsylvania. Seeing the need for a federal city, the President and Congress agreed in 1790 to the Residence Act. This provided for a district not exceeding ten miles squareon the river Potomac. The new federal city would be designed by Pierre L’Enfant, and the city planner would hold a blueprints contest for the Presidents house.
James Hoban, an Irishman living in South Carolina, won the competition with a classic Georgian design. (Thomas Jefferson was also among the entrants; he competed under a pseudonym.) Hoban based the building on a dukes palace in Ireland.
Two states, Maryland and Virginia, ceded land for the new federal district. Both were slaveholding states, and slaves broke ground for the home. The work was completed by European immigrants. The new house wasnt built in time for the Washingtons to move in; John and Abigail Adams were the first to take up residence in 1800.
The building has undergone countless changes since the years of John and Abigail Adams. Interior redecorating and structural changes started with the next resident President, Thomas Jefferson. He ordered French furniture and French wallpaper, and he added space outdoors to conceal stables and storage. Other Presidents would make even larger additions: Theodore Roosevelt — who had six children and required more space contributed the West Wing; and FDR added the East Wing during World War II to conceal construction of an underground bunker.
Each Administrations time at the White House brought something new, but here are some of the more notable changes:
* British soldiers burnt the building in 1814 during James Madisons presidency. Most of the home and its contents were destroyed by fire. A thunderstorm saved outside walls, and Dolley Madison rescued a famous portrait of George Washington. The architect James Hoban was available for renovations.
* The White House needed an extensive washing after 20,000 muddy partiers celebrated Andrew Jacksons inauguration. Jackson soon installed running water. He also planted magnolia trees and made plans for later landscaping.
* James Garfield installed the first elevator.
* Harry Truman extensively renovated the whole house and added a second porch. He also added basements for wartime safety.
* The White House was made more wheelchair-accessible during FDRs service. A pool was also added in consideration of his physical challenges.
* Richard Nixon cemented over the FDR pool to create a Press Briefing Room.
* Jacquelyn Kennedy directed the most extensive and historically accurate White House restoration. She also planted a flower garden.
* Rosalynn Carter contributed an Office of the First Lady.
Today the White House Complex consists of six stories and 55,000 square feet of space. The Executive Residence spans several floors. Two basement levels also provide storage, service areas, and a bomb shelter for the Presidents family. The West Wing holds executive offices including the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the Situation Room. The East Wing is home to offices for the First Lady, White House correspondence staff, and other White House staff members.
Some of the interior is visible to the public, but tours must be pre-arranged by a member of Congress. Visitors might tour the State Floor, where several rooms are simply named by color: the Green Room, Red Room, and Blue Room. The Green Room is named for the moss green silk that lines its walls. Its used for informal meetings and photo opportunities with foreign political leaders. Famous Green Room paintings depict Benjamin Franklin, John Quincy Adams, and Abigail Adams. The Red Room is decorated like an early-1800s parlor with a marble mantel. The Blue Room is the White Houses most formal setting. Its shaped like an oval and is furnished with gilded furniture. This is where the White House Christmas tree is traditionally placed. Visitors might also see the Map Room, the State Dining Room, or the famous Lincoln Bedroom.
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TopHoneymoon Thrills at Cheaper Deals
Lets admit it, wedding costs are no joke. Theres the whole wedding hullabaloo, not to mention the honeymoon. And of course, you definitely want to enjoy the honeymoon where its just the two of you together. And more than just being a time spent with your loved one, your honeymoon is the perfect way to relax yourselves after a busy wedding ceremony, and be treated like royalties and enjoy all the amenities of luxury. Although it is always good to be frugal, settle for anything less than what you and your loved one deserve. While some may have the money to enjoy an all-expense luxurious honeymoon get-away, its also easy to create the romantic ambience and enjoy the perfect honeymoon vacation without busting your pockets.
First, get familiar with off-peak seasons and the perfect times to visit places. If youre planning a January wedding, its also the perfect time to go visiting New York, San Francisco and Washington. February is the cheapest time to go honeymooning in Celtic Ireland, the snow-capped mountains of Netherlands and Dallas. March is perfect for honeymoons in Los Angeles; go sight-seeing in Italy and Spain, while April is perfect for a Caribbean honeymoon in Jamaica. Hawaii is cheapest on May while June brides can always choose to go to Phoenix and Albuquerque for some Mexican exploration. July offers at best at Tucson and Memphis, while a honeymoon in August is perfect at Las Vegas. September is the perfect time to go abroad and explore Asian culture in Japan. In October, you can head off to Costa Rica and in November, go kayaking at Lake Tahoe or enjoy the flavor of Dominican Republic. December brides can go to sunny, tropical, Mediterranean Greece.
Here are five travel destinations you can explore on your honeymoon, offering you the perfect romantic thrills, without the worries of an empty pocket.
London. There are many available flights to choose from, and if you pick a remote location, it costs cheaper. While it may seem more expensive than any other European destination, there are an endless choice in hotels, restaurants, transportation and tour services that you can choose from. And theres definitely something offering you and your loved one a London experience within your budget.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Accommodation is easy you can choose from luxury resorts to quaint but clean hotels in the downtown area. Honeymooners can visit Tulum or take the ferry to the island of Cozumel for some snorkeling experience.
Tioman Island. For some Asian experience, go to Tioman Island in Malaysia. It boasts of sandy beaches, verdant jungles and mountains. You and your honey can bask in the sun, go snorkeling and diving. A $100 already assures you of a two-night stay at a suite in an Oceanside resort. The island can be reached via ferry from the mainland; a good two hours ride perfect for dolphin-sightings.
Buenos Aires. For some Latin American color, Buenos Aires provides a variety of cultural events, nightlife, shopping, local sports and excursions to choose from. Explore La Boca, its street performers, shops and architecture. Airfare costs an average of $500 for a round trip.
Las Vegas. The ultimate gaming experience, not to mention the color lights and sounds make Vegas the whirlwind wedding and honeymoon setting. There are many cheap vacation packages offered by many hotels and resorts, with discount rates from lodging, meals and entertainment.
And because the honeymoon is all about just being the two of you together, you need not even go out of town or out of the country. Scout your local area for some place you can explore. Or with just candles and champagne and the two of you together, your honeymoon can be perfect and cheap in just the comforts of your new house.
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