What was Ellis Island like when your ancestors arrived? Well, they didn't have instant video and various newscams around in those days, but there were a very few motion picture cameras available. One of those cameras was used on Ellis Island in 1906 and the video is now available on YouTube.
The video depicts scenes at the Immigration Depot and a nearby dock on Ellis Island. The video appears to show, first, a group of immigrants lined up to board a vessel leaving the island, then another group arriving at the island and being directed off of the dock and into the Depot by a uniformed official.
Millions of people saw and participated in similar scenes.
You can view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8bPDdNRoxc or click on the image below.
