Search Results for: blog visit ellis island

Search Ellis Island Records For Free Online

The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation is a free resource for genealogists seeking to find information about ancestors that came to America through what is perhaps the best known point of entry into the United States. The foundation was established in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan asked the Chairman of Chrysler Corporation, Lee Iacocca, to start a private sector effort to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The fundraising effort was a huge success, and in 1986 restoration of the Statue of Liberty was complete. The Foundation next turned … Continue reading →

Ellis Island Oral Histories: Now Available On Ancestry.com

If you do genealogical research on the internet, you have probably realized that the amount of historical information that is available online increases each day. Today I heard about a wonderful new addition to the Ancestry.com website. As the result of a joint effort of the National Park Service and Ancestry.com, the oral histories of about 1,700 people that passed through Ellis Island beginning in the late 1890’s can now be accessed for free in the “Immigration” section of the Ancestry.com web site. The National Park Service began conducting the interviews some time during the 1970’s and they were available … Continue reading →

Visiting Hawaii’s White Mountain

If you fly into Hilo airport (located on the Big Island of Hawaii) on a clear day the first sight that will greet you as you drive out of the parking lot is a massive dormant volcano that towers nearly 14,000-feet above sea level (from its base on the ocean floor it rises 32,000 feet). Its Hawaiian name is Mauna Kea or White Mountain. It got its name nearly 2,000 years ago from the natives who saw snow blanket its barren slopes. These days Mauna Kea is more than just a scenic backdrop to sleepy Hilo town; it is a … Continue reading →

Does A Career Path Run In Your Family?

Sometimes, families have traditions that involve career paths. Whether it is a family business or children following in their mother’s or father’s career footsteps, careers that have a family connection can bring together people from different generations in the workplace. While I have no experience with family – related career traditions, I can only imagine that it makes for a very interesting experience, for better or for worse. Today, I saw a very interesting program on PBS about Mohawk ironworkers. Since the Mohawk are a First Nations people, they have tribal as well as nuclear family connections. One group of … Continue reading →

Tropical-Themed Layouts

Now that summer is here many avid scrapbook fans are jetting off to spend part of the season in tropical locales. While there they will likely be snapping photos and collecting mementos to feature in vacation scrapbooks. Of course, not everyone one returns from tropical getaways with a ton of pictures and perfectly preserved souvenirs. If you’re looking to create a memory album to commemorate your summer trip to Hawaii, the Caribbean or another sunny destination, but have very few items to showcase, don’t fret. Fortunately, there are a slew of tropical-themed scrapbook supplies on the market that will help … Continue reading →

Tropical Layouts

With so many people heading south for spring break, now is the time to stock up on tropical-themed scrapbook embellishments. Even if you are not planning a spring fling to the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico this year you can save the materials to use on a summer beach-themed layout or a page design for honeymooning friends. Since we visit my parents in Hawaii twice a year, I typically purchase a bunch of unique local Hawaiian scrapbooking supplies in the Islands rather than stocking up online or in shops here in Wisconsin. However, if you prefer to choose from the myriad … Continue reading →

Coming Soon – The Peopling of America Center

Today, I came across an interesting way that Americans can support the work of the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation while at the same time making their family a part of an interactive exhibit that will eventually appear both in person at Ellis Island and online. The Flag of Faces is a part of an expansion project at Ellis Island called “The Peopling of America Center”. The goal of the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation in adding the Center to the existing Ellis Island Immigration Museum is to preserve the history of the American Experience, an … Continue reading →

Calling All New England Genealogists

If you live in New England and you have some free time this coming weekend, there is a genealogy event in Franklin, Massachusetts that you may want to attend. The annual New England Family History Conference will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Franklin LDS Chapel. The Conference is free, and it is sponsored by the Hingham Stake Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While pre-registration for the conference is closed, walk-ins are welcome to attend classes that are not yet filled. The New England Family History Conference has classes that … Continue reading →

Make Learning Fun

If you have kids, then you know that getting them to study is not always a walk in the park. However, a sunny stroll in a national park could put learning in a whole new light. The same could be said for any educational destination that promotes hands-on learning. If you are looking for ways to make learning fun for your reluctant student, consider visiting: Independence Hall: A trip to Pennsylvania is not complete without a pit stop at Independence Hall where kids can learn about America’s founding fathers in a unique tour. Philadelphia’s Ghost Tour is a fun and … Continue reading →

Historical Attractions in the United States

For me, genealogy has sparked a general interest in American history. I remember thinking history was so boring in high school. Text book learning, apparently, is not my thing. However, during the past few years I have visited places that have historical significance in our great country. I have learned so much through my visits, and have developed a love for history. Besides the fact that visiting historical attractions can be fun, interesting, and exciting, they can also teach us a lot about our ancestors. Having a direct connection with historical places can be a very humbling experience. Listed below … Continue reading →