Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Breck.

If you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe to be notified about new episodes,

and to get our entire catalog of episodes ad-free, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts. Also be sure to check out

our 400-plus educational videos on our YouTube channel. We also have a new show called

Bedtime Safari, so look for the link in the show notes of our most recent episodes.

Imagine standing on a crowded ship after a long, hard journey across the ocean.

The wind is cold, the sea is rough.

You've been on this boat for weeks. You're tired, hungry, and scared.

Then in the distance you see a tall, green statue holding a torch.

Everyone around you begins to cheer.

It's the Statue of Liberty.

That means you are close, you are almost in America.

You have made it.

People cry, they hug, they smile for the first time in days.

For many immigrants, seeing the statue of liberty was the most important moment of their lives.

It meant hope. It meant a new life. But before they could step into America, they had to pass through Ellis Island.

Ellis Island is a small island in New York Harbor. It is near the Statue of Liberty. From 1892 to

1954 Ellis Island was the main place where immigrants came into the United States.

Over 12 million people passed through Ellis Island during those years. Most came

from Europe. They were looking for a better life. Some were escaping war, some were escaping hunger, some just wanted a fresh start.

Before Ellis Island, immigrants were checked at Castle Garden in Manhattan.

But as more people came, the U.S. government needed a bigger place.

...