by Evan Andrews

On November 12, 1954, the once bustling immigration inspection port at Ellis Island was shut down after more than 62 years in operation. Opened in 1892, the small island in New York Harbor served as the processing center and point of entry for more than 12 million new arrivals to the United States.

The island has since become a storied and often controversial symbol of the plight of the immigrant, and it is estimated that more than one-third of all Americans can trace their lineage to someone who passed through its doors. On the 60th anniversary of the closing of Ellis Island, learn nine surprising facts about the port that once served as the main entryway to America.

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Source: http://www.history.com/