There’s something quietly arresting about the old portraits taken at Ellis Island. Not the posed family photos or the stiff official documents, but the ones that look you right in the eye. Between 1892 and 1924, over 12 million immigrants passed through this gateway to America. A handful of them had their portraits taken right after arrival, revealing stories written in posture, clothing, and expression. This gallery brings together some of those remarkable images: a quiet reminder of the dignity, uncertainty, and courage carried across the ocean.
Historical images used in this post are sourced from the New York Public Library Digital Collections, a public archive offering free access to historical photographs and documents.
