Ellis Island was the first solid ground in America on which 12 million people stepped with hopes, anxieties and dreams. The station opened its doors for immigrants in 1892, and by the time it closed over half a century later, it had become a symbol for a fresh start and the promise of great opportunity. Today, the National Park Service estimates that around 40% of Americans can trace at least one ancestor back to the island. Its legacy is not a perfect one, but for many, understanding their familys history means exploring the story of Ellis Island.