On 1 January 1892 the first Ellis Island Immigration Station officially opened, with three ships waiting to disembark their passengers. 700 immigrants to the U.S.A. passed through that day.

ISLE OF HOPE, ISLE OF TEARS (lyrics by Brendan Graham)

"On the first day on January, eighteen ninety-two,
They opened Ellis Island and they let the people through"

Lyrics: /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=55121#855296

Sean Keane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoaJwOkFD7A