Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1900

Passenger lists for 1900 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

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• 1899
• 1900
• 1901
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1900 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1900 Index Page

The Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1900 provide a detailed record of transatlantic and global ocean travel at the turn of the 20th century, reflecting both migration trends and luxury travel among elite passengers. These souvenir passenger lists document second-class, cabin, and saloon passengers, offering insights into who was traveling, where they were going, and what social class they represented aboard ocean liners.

A major historical event of 1900 was the reopening of Ellis Island on December 17, 1900, following a three-year closure due to fire damage. Until that point, immigrants arriving in New York were processed at the Barge Office, creating delays and overcrowding.

This collection features voyages from major European and American steamship lines, including Cunard Line, North German Lloyd, Hamburg-Amerika Line, Atlantic Transport Line, and Dominion Line, with New York, Boston, Liverpool, Hamburg, and Rotterdam serving as primary ports of entry and departure. Additionally, the presence of long-haul global routes (SS Bayern to Hong Kong, SS Kaiser Wilhelm II to Genoa) highlights the expansion of global ocean travel beyond the transatlantic route.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1900 Passenger Lists

1. SS Furnessia (Anchor Line) – 12 July 1900
   • Route: Glasgow to New York
   • Passenger Class: Second Class
   • Commander: Captain Hugh Young
   • Significance: The Glasgow-New York route remained critical for Scottish emigration, and the presence of second-class passengers suggests a mix of middle-class emigrants and returning travelers.
2. SS Dominion (Dominion Line) – 9 August & 27 September 1900
   • Route: Liverpool to Québec & Montréal / Liverpool to Boston via Queenstown
   • Passenger Class: Second Saloon
   • Commander: Not Disclosed
   • Significance: These voyages reflect Canada’s increasing role as an alternative immigration destination, particularly for British and Irish emigrants traveling via Queenstown (Cobh).
3. SS Fürst Bismarck (Hamburg-Amerika Line) – 9 August 1900
   • Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain Heinrich H. Barends
   • Significance: The Hamburg-Amerika Line was one of the premier carriers of German emigrants, and this voyage reflects a mix of German, British, and French travelers.
4. SS Bayern (North German Lloyd) – 4 September 1900
   • Route: Bremen to Hong Kong via Antwerp, Genoa, Colombo, and Singapore
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain H. Bleeker
   • Significance: This is one of the few non-transatlantic voyages in the collection, highlighting Germany’s involvement in global ocean trade and travel, particularly in Asia.
5. RMS Lucania (Cunard Line) – 8 & 22 September 1900
   • Route: Liverpool to New York / New York & Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown
   • Passenger Class: Saloon & Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
   • Significance: RMS Lucania was one of Cunard’s most prestigious ocean liners, known for speed and luxury. The second-cabin voyage suggests the growing demand for mid-tier accommodations among wealthier emigrants and professionals.
6. SS New York (American Line) – 8 September 1900
   • Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
   • Passenger Class: Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain W. J. Roberts
   • Significance: This voyage underscores American Line’s continued efforts to compete with British steamship companies.
7. SS Marquette (Atlantic Transport Line) – 15 September & 8 November 1900
   • Route: New York to London / London to New York
   • Passenger Class: Cabin & Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Thomas F. Gates
   • Significance: The Atlantic Transport Line specialized in both passenger and cargo transport, making it a preferred choice for business professionals and traders traveling between the U.S. and England.
8. SS Patricia (Hamburg-Amerika Line) – 7 October 1900
   • Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain H. Leithäuser
   • Significance: The Hamburg-Amerika Line’s influence in transatlantic migration remained strong, carrying a mix of German and Eastern European emigrants, as well as business travelers.
9. SS Kaiser Wilhelm II (North German Lloyd) – 18 December 1900
   • Route: New York to Genoa via Gibraltar and Naples
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain D. Hoegemann
   • Significance: This voyage reflects the increase in Italian migration and transatlantic trade with Southern Europe.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1900

 

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1. The Reopening of Ellis Island (December 17, 1900)

• Ellis Island officially reopened after three years of reconstruction following the fire of 1897.
• The new facilities were fireproof and larger, allowing for a more efficient immigration process.
• Until this point, immigrants had been processed at the Barge Office, which caused overcrowding and long delays.

 

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2. Increasing Role of Canada as an Immigration Destination

• The presence of voyages from Liverpool to Québec and Montréal (SS Dominion) suggests that more British and Irish emigrants were using Canada as a point of entry.
• Some immigrants intended to settle in Canada, while others traveled overland to the U.S. to avoid stricter immigration controls.

 

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3. Growth of Second-Class Travel

• Second-class passenger lists (SS Furnessia, SS Lucania, SS New York) indicate the rising popularity of mid-tier accommodations.
• More wealthy emigrants and professionals were opting for second-class instead of steerage, as conditions in second-class cabins improved.

 

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4. Expansion of Global Ocean Travel Beyond the Atlantic

• The SS Bayern’s route from Bremen to Hong Kong and SS Kaiser Wilhelm II’s voyage to Genoa highlight the increasing globalization of ocean travel.
• More steamship lines were offering routes beyond the North Atlantic, catering to growing business networks in Asia and Southern Europe.

 

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5. The Continued Dominance of Cunard, North German Lloyd, and Hamburg-Amerika Line

• Cunard’s Lucania and Campania continued to dominate elite transatlantic travel, while North German Lloyd and Hamburg-Amerika Line carried large numbers of German, Dutch, and Eastern European passengers.
• American Line was steadily growing, reflecting the rise of U.S.-based ocean liners.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1900 mark the end of an era, as Ellis Island reopened after years of immigration processing at the Barge Office. This collection captures a wide range of transatlantic and global voyages, from elite travelers aboard luxury liners to second-class emigrants seeking new opportunities in North America.

Key takeaways include:

• The reopening of Ellis Island after a three-year closure.
• The increasing role of Canada as an alternative immigration route.
• The expansion of global ocean travel, particularly to Asia and Southern Europe.
• The continued competition among Cunard, North German Lloyd, and American Line for elite passengers.
• The rise of second-class travel as an alternative to steerage.

This collection provides a valuable snapshot of transatlantic and global travel in 1900, reflecting the economic and social shifts that shaped early 20th-century migration and ocean liner competition.