See if you can find a copy of "The American Heritage History of the
American People" by Bernard A. Weisberger [1971] ... one of the nice
hardback histories produced in the 1960s and 1970s when "American
Heritage" still was "American Heritage."
p. 117 has an 1855 painting, showing Irish immigrants landing. This would
be pretty much what it looked like when your immigrant ancestor landed.
p. 116 talks about the problem of too many immigrants arriving in NYC in
the 1840's and early 1850's.
"New York State required reports of immigrant arrivals, and in 1847 it set
up a Board of Commissioners of Emigration to devise orderly procedures for
receiving immigrants, registering them, assisting them where necessary,
and protecting them from swarms of swindlers and pitchmen ..... In 1855
the board bought the building known as Castle Garden, at Manhattan
Island's southern tip, and turned in into an immigrant reception station.
It served that function until it was replaced by Ellis Island, under
federal jurisdiction, in 1892"
Interesting to note that until 1892 immigration was a STATE not a FEDERAL
responsibility.
Castle Garden was not a Dutch fort. It was built ca. 1810 by the U. S.
Army as part of the coastal defenses of Manhattan. It was called Castle
Clinton, the name it now uses. It's a unit of the National Park Service.
"The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Mid-Atlantic States"
[1989] p. 28 says:
"The land on which Castle Clinton now stands was originally an island two
hundred feet off the tip of Manhattan. The United States built the
fortress in 1808-1811 to prepare for war with England ...... The fortress
was named Castle Clinton (in honor of DeWitt Clinton ....) after the War
of 1812. In 1824, it was renamed Castle Garden and opened for public
ceremonies, demonstrations, and entertainment..... [sort of an early 19th
century convention hall/area].
"In 1855, the island was connected with Manhattan [landfill] and the
castle became an immigration center.....Eight million immigrants passed
through here until the federal government took over the job and moved the
facility to Ellis Island in 1890. [1892 is the correct date]. In 1906, the
architects McKim, Mead & White remodeled it for an aquarium, which lasted
until 1940. In 1946, the federal government opened it to the public as a
national landmark. Inside is a circular courtyard and a small museum ..."
Telephone 212-344-7220
I'm sure that there is a National Park WebSite that could give you more.
Most any book on 19th century immigration would give info on Castle
Garden. I just quoted from the easiest one to get from the shelf.
David Roberts