Barry’s GenSites: Castle Garden
Posted on Jul 21, 2012
Castle Garden opened in New York City as America's first official immigration reception center in 1855 and processed more than eight million passengers It's still incomplete, but the free Castle Garden database of some 11 million immigrants may help you track down an ancestor who arrived through the port of New York pre-Ellis Island (i.e., before 1892). Currently, there are no linked images. Some two million records dating from the 1820s and implementation of advanced search features are said to be forth¬coming.
New York City's Castle Garden, today known as Castle Clinton National Monument, was America's first official immigration center. At this site, an educational project of The Battery Conservancy, you can search a database of 11 million immigrants from 1820 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. This free site offers access to an extraordinary database of information on 11 million immigrants from 1820 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened.
Over 100 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period. Before immigrants landed at Ellis Island, they came to Castle Garden. Although Castle Garden didn't actually open until 1855, this free website includes records from 1830 to 1892. The site, while not complete, does have records for about 10 million people. Clicking on a name will lead you to a transcribed list.
Actual lists aren't yet available. CastleGarden.org offers free access to information on immigrants from 1830 through 1892, documenting the time before Ellis Island opened. Ellis Island's precursor, Castle Garden, was America's first official immigration center. You can find early New York arrivals among more than 10 million records covering 1830 through 1892; another 2 million records, dating back to 1820, await transcribing.
Category: Family History