1892–1954 -- Ellis Island in New York City’s harbor, the largest gateway to immigrants to the United States, opens in 1892. The first immigrant processed at Ellis Island on January 2, 1892, is a 15-year-old Irish girl, accompanied by her two brothers. When it closes in 1954, more than 12 million immigrants have come through the Ellis Island “doorway.” As a museum, Ellis Island attracts almost 2 million visitors each year in the 21st century. (© AP Images)