Ellis Island, a mile from New York, was established as an immigration station in 1892 and was the doorstep to America for twenty million people in search of a new life. Many of them were fleeing from famine, poverty, and political persecution. At the turn of the century as many as 5,000 immigrants passed through Ellis Island every day. They had to face a barrier of officials before they could cross to the mainland of America and many were turned away. Historic stills and photographs are used to tell the story of the world's greatest immigration depot.
An N.B.C. production