Incredible Photos Of Immigrants Arriving At Ellis Island

Samuel Ellis

It wasn’t until the period of the American Revolution that the land fell into the hands of Samuel Ellis, a New York merchant. The island was named for him. Ellis built a tavern on the island for local fisherman to stop and have a bite to eat. Fourteen years after the death of Samuel Ellis, the state of New York purchased the island from Ellis’ family for a grand total of $10,000. The United States War Department then paid the state of New York for the rights to use the island to store ammunition and to build military fortifications during the War of 1812. During the Civil War it was used a munitions arsenal.