<P> The first station was a three - story - tall structure with outbuildings , built of Georgia Pine , containing the amenities thought to be necessary . It opened with fanfare on January 1 , 1892 . Three large ships landed on the first day , and 700 immigrants passed over the docks . Almost 450,000 immigrants were processed at the station during its first year . On June 15 , 1897 , a fire of unknown origin , possibly caused by faulty wiring , turned the wooden structures on Ellis Island into ashes . No loss of life was reported , but most of the immigration records dating back to 1855 were destroyed . About 1.5 million immigrants had been processed at the first building during its five years of use . Plans were immediately made to build a new , fireproof immigration station . During the construction period , passenger arrivals were again processed at the Barge Office . Edward Lippincott Tilton and William A. Boring won the 1897 competition to design the first phase , including the Main Building ( 1897 -- 1900 ) , Kitchen and Laundry Building ( 1900 -- 01 ) , Main Powerhouse ( 1900 -- 01 ) , and the Main Hospital Building ( 1900 -- 01 ) . </P>
<P> The first station was a three - story - tall structure with outbuildings , built of Georgia Pine , containing the amenities thought to be necessary . It opened with fanfare on January 1 , 1892 . Three large ships landed on the first day , and 700 immigrants passed over the docks . Almost 450,000 immigrants were processed at the station during its first year . On June 15 , 1897 , a fire of unknown origin , possibly caused by faulty wiring , turned the wooden structures on Ellis Island into ashes . No loss of life was reported , but most of the immigration records dating back to 1855 were destroyed . About 1.5 million immigrants had been processed at the first building during its five years of use . Plans were immediately made to build a new , fireproof immigration station . During the construction period , passenger arrivals were again processed at the Barge Office . Edward Lippincott Tilton and William A. Boring won the 1897 competition to design the first phase , including the Main Building ( 1897 -- 1900 ) , Kitchen and Laundry Building ( 1900 -- 01 ) , Main Powerhouse ( 1900 -- 01 ) , and the Main Hospital Building ( 1900 -- 01 ) . </P>
when did the first immigrants come through ellis island
when did the first immigrants come through ellis island
January 1 , 1892
January 1 , 1892