Ellis Island Prior to Restoration

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Between 1898 and 1954, some 14  million immigrants entered the United States through the Main Building at Ellis Island. In the 25  years that followed its abandonment, Boring and Tilton's  handsome buildings began to deteriorate to noble ruins in the hostile marine environment of New York harbor: By 1979, the deterioration of the roof and windows had resulted in extensive build-up of salts on the interior and in high humidity levels, which would subsequently take two years to mechanically control.

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