Twin Towers, 2000 – THEY CAME FROM MANY LANDS!!
In 2000, I had the privilege of visiting an exhibition at the top of the World Trade Center. What left a lasting impression on me was the immense number of people who made the bold journey to the “New World,” leaving behind poverty and persecution in search of a better life. The exhibition, titled “They Came From Many Lands,” was a heartfelt tribute to the immigrant experience.
Twin Towers
New York City
For many, their first step on American soil was at Ellis Island. Some chose to settle in bustling New York City, while others ventured far across the country with little more than their families, a few treasured possessions, and unwavering hope
Ellis Island was designated by the federal government as an immigration center in 1890. It served as the primary gateway for immigrants to the United States until its closure in 1954. In those years, over 12 million people passed through its doors, making it a symbol of new beginnings.
The exhibition included fascinating displays, such as a breakdown of the number of immigrants processed through Ellis Island from various countries between January 1892 and June 1897, and again from 1901 to 1931. Here’s a recreated list of those immigrant numbers by country, as noted on the display:
List of arrivals from a World Tower Exhibit – 2000
The exhibition included fascinating displays, such as a breakdown of the number of immigrants processed through Ellis Island from various countries between January 1892 and June 1897, and again from 1901 to 1931. Here’s a recreated list of those immigrant numbers by country, as noted on the display:
- Italy: 2,502,310
- Russia: 1,893,542
- Hungary: 859,557 (1905–1931)
- Austria: 768,132 (1905–1931)
- Austria-Hungary: 648,163 (1892–1904)
- Germany: 633,148
- England: 551,969
- Ireland: 520,904
- Sweden: 348,036
- Greece: 245,058
- Norway: 226,278
- Ottoman Empire: 212,825
- Scotland: 191,023
- The West Indies: 171,774
- Poland: 153,444 (1892–1897; 1920–1931)
- Portugal: 120,725
- France (including Corsica): 109,687
- Denmark: 99,414
- Romania: 79,092 (1894–1931)
- The Netherlands: 78,602
- Spain: 72,636
- Belgium: 63,141
- Czechoslovakia: 48,140 (1920–1931)
- Bulgaria: 42,085 (1901–1931)
- Wales: 27,113
- Yugoslavia: 25,017 (1920–1931)
- Finland: 7,833 (1920–1931)
- Switzerland: 1,103
Each number represents not just an individual, but an entire story of hope, resilience, and courage. This exhibition was a poignant reminder of how deeply immigration has shaped the United States—and the world.