also see http://www.thebattery.org/ Begin forwarded message: Resent-From: [email protected] On August 1, New York State's first immigration processing center, Castle Garden, will celebrate its 150th birthday. To commemorate this special occasion, the Battery Conservancy will launch its new website - CastleGarden.org - where researchers can do online searches of the expansive database of Castle Garden passenger lists! Castle Garden first opened its doors on August 1, 1855 and would see 8 million immigrants pass through her doors in her 34 year reign! The passenger lists pertaining to these 8 million immigrants are currently found at the National Archives, and they are *not* indexed. This monstrous project has been led by Dr. Ira Glazier, former Director of the Center for Migration Research at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies and Immigration. To learn more about the Castle Garden website, and to be notified of its official launch, please see: http://www.CastleGarden.org Truly a dream come true for all those whose ancestors passed through the Castle! Nancy M.