Coming to America

The Immigrant Experience: Italian Americans of Cleveland Coming to America Ethnic Settlements in Cleveland Italian Settlements Mobility and Migration Tools & Useful Resources

Coming to America

Between 1875 and 1930, over five million Italians immigrated to the United States. Of these, about 80% were from southern Italy (Italian American and Their Communities of Cleveland.) After opening in 1892, Ellis Island served as the entry for many European immigrants into the "land of promise."

"Most of this generation of Italian immigrants took their first steps on U.S. soil in a place that has now become a legend—Ellis Island. In the 1880s, they numbered 300,000; in the 1890s, 600,000; in the decade after that, more than two million. By 1920, when immigration began to taper off, more than 4 million Italians had come to the United States, and represented more than 10 percent of the nation’s foreign-born population" (American Memory Project, "Immigration...Italians")

Immigrants on an Atlantic Liner

Group of emigrants on deck of the S.S. Patricia (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

"En Route"

Farewell, land of love, Italy

Sister-land of Paradise;

With my own feet I have trodden thee,

Have seen with mine own eyes;

I remember, thou forgettest me,

I remember thee.

(“En Route” was written in June 1865 by Christina Rossetti, daughter of Italian exile poet Gabriele Rossetti)

Landing at Ellis Island

Emigrants coming up the board-walk from the barge, which has taken them off the steamship company's docks, and transported them to Ellis Island. The big building in the background is the new hospital just opened. The ferry-boat seen in the middle of the picture, runs from New York to Ellis Island. (Courtesy the Library of Congress)

Italian Immigrant Family at Ellis Island (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Eye Examination

Coming to America