Tartan Day on Ellis Island

[M. A. C. Newsome]

So, what would it be like for the visitor to Ellis Island? You'd arrive by ferry, either from NY or NJ.


Once you entered the main building you'd come through the baggage room, where you could see examples of the baggage immigrants would be travelling with when they arrived to Ellis.


From there you could explore many exhibit areas within the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, but many people go immediately upstairs to the Registry Room.


Both downstairs in the baggage room as well as upstairs in the Registry Room visitors would see signs letting them know something special was going on this weekend.


That's when they would come into the tartan exhibition area. In addition to the exhibit and display panels shown in the previous post, the Scottish Tartans Museum sponsored an information table with name references, swatch books from two major Scottish woolen mills (Lochcarron and House of Edgar) and free handouts giving information about tartan and kilts, courtesy of the Scottish Tartans Museum.

That's Suzanne Curry in the photo, wife of Bob Curry. Both Bob and Suzanne helped me to answer questions and give out tartan information all weekend.

All the above photos were taken Thursday evening after we set up everything. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the place was packed with people! Ellis Island receives approximately 30,000 visitors per day this time of year, so I am told. After living through three days with this exhibit, I can believe it!

So now let's see what the place looks like with people in it!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

A busy three days!

People would arrive to the island by the ferry, seeing Scottish flags to announce that Tartan Day was being celebrated on the Island.


And if the flags were not enough they were greeted by pipers and dancers.

The Rampant Lion Pipe Band



One of the dancers was Bonnie Greene, the kiltmaker herself!


Even the food court was getting into the spirit with a Tartan Day lunch special!


Of course then there is the exhibition area itself, which the musicians and dancers were there to draw them in to see!



This exhibition was a fantastic opportunity. Normally when we set up information tables at Highland Games and Scottish festivals it is really like "preaching to the choir" in many ways. People are there generally because they have some interest in Scottish culture already. But on Ellis we got a chance to introduce a bit about the tartan tradition in Scotland to people who were absolutely unfamiliar with it. Most found it quite interesting. Plus Ellis Island sees visitors from all over the world. Not only did I talk with people from California, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, and even North Carolina, but I also met many people from Scotland, England, France, Jamaica, and even China.


Above is Bob Currie talking with a group of tourists about tartan.


Gillian Swan from VisitScotland was also on hand, helping out and promoting the release of the 1911 Scottish census online. Here she is talking with the Rampant Lion Pipe Band members.


Bob Curry looking up a tartan for a young lady.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

There were also entertainers throughout the day within the exhibition area itself, which really provided some great atmosphere (and helped to draw people in).

We had a harpist.


We had a folk trio.


The gentleman on the left above is Chris Lair, a very accomplished musician who entertained us greatly on the Uillian Pipes, and even played for some of the dancers.


And what tartan exhibition would be complete without a kilted, Gaelic singing, juggler! The school groups loved this guy!


That is all for now, but be on the lookout for more info from this event, including the introduction of a very special new tartan!