Immigrants arriving in the United States by sea would first set foot on American soil at Ellis Island, off the coast of New York City. The photograph show a group disembarking from the barge that has brought them to Ellis Island from the steamer docks. Visible in the background is the new hospital, opened in 1902. In front of it the ferry between Ellis Island and New York is anchored.
Landing at Ellis Island, black-and-white photograph, 1902, unknown photographer; source: Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-12595, public domain.