Port of Galveston immigration “Galveston Movement”. In addition, many have often described Galveston as The Ellis Island of the West” or a “Second Ellis Island.”(Silent Treatment, 65) However, immigrants from all over the world entered the United States through the Galveston immigration station, including those from Central and South America, Asia, and Europe. The flow of immigrants into the area also helped tourism to Galveston and thus, helped keep the city vibrant. Galveston was one of the largest cities in Texas until the hurricane of 1900 that devastated the city. The immigration station located in Galveston was built on Pelican Island. “When the federal
History of Galveston, Texas feet near the Bay (1904–1910). Despite attempts to draw new investment to the city after the hurricane, Galveston has never fully returned to its previous levels of national importance or prosperity. Development was also hindered by the construction of the Houston Ship Channel, which brought the Port of Houston into direct competition with the natural harbor of the Port of Galveston for sea traffic. To further her recovery, and rebuild her population, Galveston actively solicited immigration. Through the efforts of Rabbi Henry Cohen and Congregation B'nai Israel, Galveston became the focus of an immigration plan called the Galveston Movement that,