Castle Garden/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1891

Passenger lists for 1891 represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.

Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.

Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Note: The Barge Office was used as New York's immigrant processing center from 19 April 1890 to 31 December 1891 and from 15 June 1897 to 16 December 1900.

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

«
• 1890
• 1891
• 1892
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1891 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Castle Garden/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1891 Index Page

The Castle Garden/Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1891 offer a detailed view of transatlantic ocean travel during a transitional period in U.S. immigration history. These souvenir passenger lists, issued by steamship companies rather than immigration authorities, focused on documenting the voyage experience, making them valuable historical artifacts.

One of the most significant historical changes of this year was the continued use of the Barge Office as New York’s immigration processing center. From April 19, 1890, to December 31, 1891, the Barge Office replaced Castle Garden, marking a temporary shift before the opening of Ellis Island in January 1892. This shift reflects the growing influx of immigrants and the need for a more modern processing facility.

This collection primarily documents saloon and cabin-class passengers, representing business travelers, professionals, and wealthier emigrants, rather than the steerage-class passengers who made up the majority of transatlantic immigration at the time. The routes highlight key transatlantic connections between New York, Liverpool, Le Havre, and Canada, with strong representation from Cunard Line, the French Line (CGT), Inman Line, and the Allan Line.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1891 Passenger Lists

1. SS City of New York (Inman Line) – 1 April 1891
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Frederick Watkins, LT, R.N.R.
   • Significance: The SS City of New York was one of the largest and most advanced Inman Line vessels, designed for both speed and comfort. The presence of saloon-class passengers reflects the growing market for luxury transatlantic travel, catering to wealthy business travelers and high-ranking officials.
2. SS La Gascogne (French Line - CGT) – 25 April 1891
   • Route: Le Havre to New York
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain S. Santelli
   • Significance: The French Line (CGT) was a dominant player in transatlantic travel between France and the U.S. The cabin-class passengers on this voyage likely included French professionals, merchants, and diplomats, reinforcing the strong business and cultural ties between France and the United States.
3. SS La Bourgogne (French Line - CGT) – 25 July 1891
   • Route: New York to Le Havre
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain LeBœuf
   • Significance: Unlike most lists that focus on arriving passengers, this voyage documents outbound travel from the U.S. to France, providing insight into returning expatriates, business travelers, and transatlantic tourism.
4. SS La Touraine (French Line - CGT) – 29 August 1891
   • Route: Le Havre to New York
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain Frangeul
   • Significance: La Touraine was one of the most luxurious ships of the French Line, offering high-quality accommodations for wealthy passengers traveling between France and America. This ship was part of the growing trend of improving passenger experience for upper-class travelers.
5. RMS Parisian (Allan Line) – 17 September 1891
   • Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain J. Ritchie
   • Significance: Unlike most transatlantic routes that focused on New York, this voyage highlights the importance of Canada as a major immigration and travel destination. The Allan Line was one of the leading shipping companies serving Canada, bringing a mix of British, Scottish, and Irish emigrants, as well as business travelers.
6. RMS Umbria (Cunard Line) – 3 October 1891
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
   • Significance: The RMS Umbria was one of Cunard’s premier liners, known for its speed and luxury. This voyage underscores the growing competition among steamship lines to attract high-paying passengers in the saloon class, offering improved accommodations, fine dining, and entertainment.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1891

 

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1. Final Year of Immigration Processing at the Barge Office

• 1891 marked the last full year before the opening of Ellis Island on January 1, 1892.
• The Barge Office served as a temporary immigration processing center due to the closure of Castle Garden in 1890.
• The rising number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe was beginning to reshape immigration patterns, leading to calls for stricter regulations.

 

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2. Surge in Transatlantic Immigration from Europe

• German, Italian, and Eastern European migration to the U.S. was increasing, though most traveled in steerage class, which is not documented in this collection.
• Ships like SS La Gascogne and SS La Touraine carried middle-class emigrants and professionals, indicating a shift in who could afford cabin-class travel.

 

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3. Expansion of Canadian Immigration Routes

• The Allan Line’s RMS Parisian voyage to Québec and Montréal reflects the importance of Canada as an immigration and trade hub.
• Many British, Scottish, and Irish emigrants preferred Canada as a destination, where land was available for settlement.

 

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4. Continued Growth of Luxury Travel and Competition Among Steamship Lines

• Cunard, Inman, and the French Line were competing fiercely for saloon-class passengers, offering more luxurious accommodations, faster voyages, and better dining experiences.
• The RMS Umbria, SS City of New York, and SS La Bourgogne were among the most prestigious liners of their time, showcasing the trend toward luxury transatlantic travel.

 

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5. Growing Role of French Transatlantic Travel

• The French Line (CGT) had multiple ships in this collection, including SS La Gascogne, SS La Bourgogne, and SS La Touraine, highlighting France’s strong transatlantic presence.
• Many French businessmen, diplomats, and upper-class travelers regularly moved between Le Havre and New York, strengthening economic and cultural ties.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Castle Garden/Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1891 capture a critical moment in transatlantic travel, just before the opening of Ellis Island and major shifts in U.S. immigration policies. The dominance of saloon and cabin-class travelers in this collection highlights the growth of luxury and business travel, rather than the large-scale immigration that defined this era.

Key themes from this collection include:

• The transition from Castle Garden to the Barge Office as New York’s immigration center.
• The growing competition among steamship lines for upper-class passengers.
• The expansion of Canadian immigration routes via the Allan Line.
• The continued importance of French transatlantic connections.

This collection serves as a valuable historical resource, illustrating the evolution of ocean liner travel, the rise of luxury transatlantic voyages, and the last days of the Barge Office before Ellis Island transformed immigration processing forever.