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From 1892 to 1954, over 12 million immigrants entered America through the portal of Ellis Island in New York Harbor.

While the majority of these people only had to pass through the doors of the Immigration Station, about 1.2 million — or 10% of Ellis Island arrivals — were directed to the General Hospital and Infectious Disease Ward on the south island. Immigrants with a chalk mark on their clothing, which signaled a health deficiency, were sent on to the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital to be detained until they recovered or were deemed too sick to enter the United States. Despite the fact that an estimated 3,500 people died in the Immigrant Hospital, around 350 babies were born during the years of operation. The hospital saw a steady decline and closed for good in 1954.

Thanks to the efforts of Save Ellis Island, an organization formed to oversee the rehabilitation and preservation of the unrestored buildings, the abandoned hospital has opened to the public for the first time in 60 years. Many of the 29 buildings of the general hospital and infectious disease ward are now open for guided hard hat tours.

An exciting addition to the 10-person tours is the installation of French artist JR’s “Unframed – Ellis Island”, in which historic images from the island’s past have been overlaid onto its crumbling walls and broken windows. The “art exhibit” will continue to add an eerie feel to the derelict buildings until it decides to gradually disappear of it’s own volition.

Enjoy the collection of photos I captured from Ellis Island’s forgotten hospital and make sure to book a tour so you can explore it for yourself!

Entrance to the Laundry Building

Artist JR’s “Unframed — Ellis Island”

Leading into the Kitchen

Morgue & Autopsy Theater

Artist JR’s “Unframed — Ellis Island”

Laundry Building

Connecting Corridors

Doctor’s Residence

Ferry Building & General Hospital

Y Corridor

L to R: Ellis Island Immigration Hospital | Ferry Building | Ellis Island Immigration Station

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