Passengers would sense they were close to their arrival due to a number of reasons. The first being the smell as the air began to change to odors of oil and musky machinery pollutants operated in factories along the New York harbor front. The smell wasn’t the only change for many immigrants. The warm and calming temperatures of Europe were no longer felt on the skins of passengers but the crisp and refreshing chills that traveled from the sea salted waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Although the first impression wasn’t an alluring one, passengers did make site of the famous Statue of Liberty, for most a sign of freedom, peace and opportunity. As the boat drew closer to docking, many would begin to clap while others cried tears of joy and excitement.
After two straight weeks of seasickness and sea legs, many were anxious to run off the boat and begin adventuring the city of New York. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case once docked health officers would inspect each ship that came in for diseases. First class and second-class passengers would be inspected first aboard the ships whereas third class passengers would be transported away to Ellis Island for processing.
