Between 1892 and 1924, as many as 12 million men, women, and children from all over the world passed through the Registry Room of Ellis Island's Main Building. They came dressed as when they had left their native countries, with expressions of excitement and joy, fear and trepidation. Exhaustion from the long trip was imprinted on their faces. Children especially went through the ordeal of a tiresome expectation of a big reward at the end of this journey.

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http://www.historychannel.com/ellisisland/index2.html