LET’S CELEBRATE AMERICA Ellis island Gateway to America by Joanne Mattern
gateway to America Imagine leaving the only home you have ever known You get on the biggest boat you have ever seen For weeks you live on that boat as you travel across the ocean seeing nothing but water A Russian family aboard a steamship headed to America The steamship Prinzess Irene arriving in New York 4
Finally you hear people calling Land Everyone is excited You rush up onto the ship’s deck and see the shore Many tall buildings stand along the water But your eyes are fixed on a large stone and brick building right in front of you You have arrived at Ellis Island the Gateway to America Over the next few hours you will be poked and prodded People will ask you many questions Finally if you are lucky you will be free to go You are in America now And whether you are alone or with your family you know this is the start of a brand new life IT’S A FACT Almost 40 percent of Americans today had at least one ancestor pass through Ellis Island For millions of Americans between 1892 and 1954 Ellis Island was the first thing they saw when they came to America This building was a place of many hopes and dreams It is an important part of American history 5
