Tartan Day on Ellis Island

[M. A. C. Newsome]

So, what would it be like for the visitor to Ellis Island? You'd arrive by ferry, either from NY or NJ.


Once you entered the main building you'd come through the baggage room, where you could see examples of the baggage immigrants would be travelling with when they arrived to Ellis.


From there you could explore many exhibit areas within the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, but many people go immediately upstairs to the Registry Room.


Both downstairs in the baggage room as well as upstairs in the Registry Room visitors would see signs letting them know something special was going on this weekend.


That's when they would come into the tartan exhibition area. In addition to the exhibit and display panels shown in the previous post, the Scottish Tartans Museum sponsored an information table with name references, swatch books from two major Scottish woolen mills (Lochcarron and House of Edgar) and free handouts giving information about tartan and kilts, courtesy of the Scottish Tartans Museum.

That's Suzanne Curry in the photo, wife of Bob Curry. Both Bob and Suzanne helped me to answer questions and give out tartan information all weekend.

All the above photos were taken Thursday evening after we set up everything. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the place was packed with people! Ellis Island receives approximately 30,000 visitors per day this time of year, so I am told. After living through three days with this exhibit, I can believe it!

So now let's see what the place looks like with people in it!