Castle Garden New York Immigration
The former fort reopened in 1824 as castle garden a public cultural center and theatre.
Castle garden new york immigration. The building which was constructed between the years 1808 and 1811 and served several different uses over the years. Following the passage of the passenger act of 3 march 1855 designed to safeguard the health and welfare of immigrant passengers to the us new york passed its own legislation to establish a receiving station for immigrants. The immigration process at castle garden 1871 the state of new york has established a landing depot for immigrants at castle garden in the port of new york. Castle garden was chosen for the site becoming americas first immigrant receiving center and welcoming more than 8 million immigrants before it was closed on april 18 1890.
It operated until the us. In the nearly 40 years span from 1855 to 1890 a facility called castle garden processed incoming immigrants arriving at the port of new york. Barge office which was located on the eastern edge of the battery waterfront. In the 1850s new york city and state officials pooled their efforts to create a more protective landing experience.
At the time castle garden was already a local landmark. The facility today is known as castle clinton national monument was named in honor of new york city mayor dewitt clinton. Castle garden existed as a processing station for immigrants between 1855 and 1890. In 1890 the federal government determined to control all ports of entry and take responsibility for receiving and processing all immigrants to the us.
Originally a military fort on an artificial island the city had filled in land to connect it to manhattan and turned the old fort into a theater and restaurant complex. The emigrant landing depot at castle garden. Their solution was the countrys first immigration station. The castle was closed and the reception center was moved to the us.
Managing the many immigration departments at castle garden is described in a pamphlet on immigration by friedrich kapp former commissioner of immigration for the state of new york.