The
chief immigration station of the U.S. from l943 until l892, Ellis Island
occupies 27 acres in Upper New York Bay. Before Ellis Island served in this
capacity Castle Garden, an old fort that has been converted into an opera
house and amusement hall, processed immigrants, beginning in l855. Castle
Garden was located in the Battery, a park at the southern extremity of
Manhattan. Ellis Island once was called Oyster Island because of the
abundant oysters in its waters.