Red Star Line

Many Americans have tried to reconstruct the puzzle of their ancestors' lives. Descendants of the immigrants whose astonishing migration story is registered on the Oral History Program audiotapes at Ellis Island hear the story of their ancestor's journey for the first time.

Eastern European migrants flood into Antwerp, a city they barely know, to await departure for America - exhausted and with no money with which to buy anything. Once at sea they face new challenges: sickness and hunger brought on by overcrowded third-class living on board the ships of the Red Star Line. Many wondered why they ever considered this journey.

As the Statue of Liberty came into view, the 'American Dream' suddenly seemed to become reality - but more trials remained. Migrants would undergo medical examination on Ellis Island, and remain there to await the results. Many hopefuls were sent back to Antwerp due to medical reasons, in some cases separating them from their family for years.