Research Family Immigration History

Our database includes all immigrants who traveled through both the Castle Garden and Ellis Stations.

Do you have ancestors that may have entered America through the Ellis Island Immigration Station? With a little research, you can obtain a copy of their ship manifest, and discover how they responded to the questions given to them by an immigration inspector. All information is stored on a computerized database, and lab time can be reserved through a kiosk on the first floor. 

Details

Duration

5-30 Minutes

Activity

Museum Exhibits

In the Passenger Record Archive, you’ll find original manifests, passenger records, and ship information.

Age(s)

18 and Older

It is suggested that researchers are 18 years or older, but all are welcome.

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

Yes

The AFIHC is ran by a non-profit organization. It costs $7 to rent a computer for 30-minutes.

Location

National Museum of Immigration

Island is only accessible by ferry.

Reservations

Yes

Reservation kiosks are available inside the National Museum of Immigration.

Season

Year Round

The American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island is open every day except December 25.

Time of Day

Day

The American Family Immigration History Center is open daily. Hours depend on the time of year and boat schedule.

Accessibility Information

Computer terminals are easily located on the first floor, reserved through a kiosk, and accessible by all visitors.

Are you one of the millions of Americans who can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island? Search the archives (containing more than 51 million arrival records) and find the ship’s manifest with your family member’s information. Located on Ellis Island, there are services available to help research the names of immigrants that were processed through New York Harbor from 1892 to 1957. In the Passenger Record Archive, you’ll find original manifest and ship information.