The Ellis Island Collection: Artifacts from the Immigrant Experience

Rating:
Summary: A 'museum in a box' of 23 reproduced replicas of artifacts
Review: The roots of millions of immigrants to the United States are evident in modern generations of mixed cultures, and celebrating the major gateway into this country is Chronicle Books' The Ellis Island Collection: Artifacts From The Immigrant Experience, providing a 'museum in a box' of 23 reproduced replicas of artifacts found at Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924 from Irish Catholics and Italians to Hungarians and more. Among the relics in a colorful gift box: an immigrant boarding card, passenger list, Ellis Island lunch menu and much more.


Rating:
Summary: Time travel
Review: This is a little box with reproduced artifacts from some of the people who travelled through Ellis Island. It is really clever, because the items look and feel real. There is a book which explains the background of Ellis Island, and then explains the implications of each item in the box. It literally transports the mind into the mind of the person to whom the replica once belonged.

I felt really quite moved once I had thoroughly explored the contents - better than any book - any day.

This collection is an experience in itself.

By the way - interestingly, I have no connection to any of the immigrants. I am a Brit who visited Ellis Island this winter, and was moved by my experience. This is the best momento I could have wished for, for my visit.