Ellis Island originally opened back in 1892 — as the first point of entry for millions of new Americans — in the heart of New York harbor. Created as our nation’s first inspection station for immigration — Ellis was also a medical facility, a detention center, and was completely abandoned, before emerging as a great memorial to diversity and immigration. As our relationship with immigration continues to evolve — we should take a moment to celebrate the extraordinary significance of Ellis Island — and its impact on our both our history, our memory and our lives.