Port of Galveston immigration
The immigrant inspection station at the Port of Galveston, in Galveston, Texas, was the gateway for tens of thousands of immigrants to the Southwest of the United States. Galveston was one of the largest cities in Texas until the hurricane of 1900 devastated the city The Galveston station opened in 1906. Although not as familiar as Ellis Island, Galveston is known for an influx of Jewish immigrants from Europe during this period, the Galveston Movement. Immigrants from all over the world entered the United States through Galveston, including Central and South America, Asia, and Europe. The station in Galveston was built on Pelican Island. “When the federal government replaced state administrations in processing immigrants at the turn of the century, efforts began to redirect the flow of immigration from the Northeast to Texas. Pelican Island became federal property, and the government constructed an immigration center and quarantine station there." Quarantine centers already existed at other stations as well, because of the idea that immigrants brought with them diseases that could spread to the American people. After an outbreak of yellow fever, the quarantine station on Pelican Island was set up to ensure the disease did not reach the US population.