Both of my parents are German immigrants. My dad first came to Canada, then Chicago to Berkley and then down to the LA area. My mom came to New York and then to LA, where she soon after met my dad.
In Bremerhaven, Germany they have set up a new Immigrants Museum that was fantastic. It mostly highlighted the immigrant from the early 1900's rather than the 1960's when my parents came but it was great for the kids to see the process of how many immigrants came to this country and how they got here.
They had some really great luggage around here!
This was 3rd class and I absolutely cannot imagine sleeping in one of these cabins with children for 6 weeks! Imagine all the vomit that would all over the place. uh.
Such a different life than the immigrants that came before us...
This was the Ellis Island portion and they had all sorts of personal stories to listen to on headphones that were all quite powerful. Many having to do with loss and hope for a new life. It's good to put our current economic 'crisis' into perspective when we think about many of our ancestors who had to come here, build houses, plant crops and work 24/7 to make it. Many of us today are complaining about not being able to eat out as much these days. We all really have it so easy compared to generations past. Thank goodness!!