Ellis Island

For some it was the Isle of Hope. For others, it was the Isle of Tears. For half a century, Ellis Island was America’s “Golden Door.” Entrance meant a new life, freedom and opportunity. Rejection meant a heartbreaking return to hopelessness.

In this moving program, immigrants of every ethnic background recall their extraordinary adventures, from the treacherous passage across the sea to the daunting challenge of starting life over in a new land. Historians explore the island’s sometimes insensitive policies, including the casual Americanization of names. Interviews from the Ellis Island Oral History Project reveal what the immigration experience was actually like. And rare photographs and films tell the stories of the famous people who passed through its doors — many of whom would change America forever.

Join host Mandy Patinkin for an unforgettable first-hand testimony from the men, women and children who risked everything for a chance at the American Dream.