On November 12, 1954, Ellis Island officially closed its doors as an immigration station, marking the end of a significant chapter in American history. More than 12 million immigrants entered the United States through this historic gateway from its opening in 1892 until its closure. The island served as a pivotal entry point for those seeking a new life in America, shaping the nation’s demographic and cultural landscape.
Significant Events on November 12
This date has witnessed numerous historic events beyond the closure of Ellis Island. In 1927, **Josef Stalin** solidified his power in the Soviet Union by expelling **Leon Trotsky** from the Communist Party, effectively removing a major rival. The year 1936 saw the opening of the **San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge**, an engineering marvel that was inaugurated by **President Franklin D. Roosevelt**, who pressed a telegraph key from Washington, D.C., to signal the start of traffic.
The same year, **Eugene O’Neill**, a prominent American playwright, received the **Nobel Prize in Literature**, further highlighting the cultural achievements of the time. In 1948, a war crimes tribunal sentenced former Japanese Prime Minister **Hideki Tojo** and several other leaders to death for their roles in World War II, with Tojo executed later that year.
Over the years, November 12 has also been the site of tragic events. In 1970, the **Bhola cyclone** struck East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people, marking it as the deadliest tropical cyclone in recorded history. More recently, in 2001, **American Airlines Flight 587** crashed shortly after takeoff from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 passengers and five individuals on the ground.
Recent Historical Milestones
In 2019, the city of **Venice** experienced its worst flooding in over 50 years, with waters reaching 6.14 feet (1.87 meters) above average sea level, causing damages estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The year 2021 was also notable, as a judge in Los Angeles ended the conservatorship that had governed pop star **Britney Spears** for nearly 14 years.
More recently, in 2024, **Jack Teixeira**, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents regarding the war in Ukraine, following his guilty plea to charges under the Espionage Act.
Today, we also recognize several notable birthdays. Among them are actor-playwright **Wallace Shawn**, who turns 82, rock musician **Booker T. Jones**, who is 81, and sportscaster **Al Michaels**, also 81. Additional birthdays include singer-songwriter **Neil Young** at 80, and **Democratic Senator Jack Reed** of Rhode Island, who is 76.
The closure of Ellis Island remains a poignant reminder of the complex history of immigration in the United States, reflecting the hopes and dreams of millions who sought refuge and opportunity in a new land.