Castle gardens

Castle Garden was the first official immigration processing center in the United States, operating from 1855 to 1890 in New York City. Located at the site of what is now Battery Park, it replaced shipboard immigration checks and provided a centralized facility for processing newcomers arriving by sea. The garden was originally a fort and later a public park, offering a welcoming entrance to immigrants with services like health screenings, legal inspections, and assistance. It played a key role in managing large waves of immigration during the 19th century, before being replaced by Ellis Island.