Gateway to America Sep 17, 2018

Gateway to America

We’re here at Ellis Island in honor of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, an annual observance that recognizes both the adoption of the US Constitution and those who have become US citizens. For more than 60 years, Ellis Island served as a gateway for millions of immigrants arriving in the United States—and it’s easy to imagine them gazing at the Statue of Liberty from this very window, while contemplating their new lives in the United States. These days, Citizenship Day is a popular time for federal courts to hold naturalization ceremonies, when new American citizens are sworn in. These free, often celebratory events are open to the public, and are often attended by students learning about citizenship.

© jmeyersforeman/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Sep 17, 2019Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Sep 17, 2020Citizenship Day and Constitution Day
Sep 17, 2021Eye of the cave
Sep 17, 2022Oktoberfest
Sep 17, 2023Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Sep 17, 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 14, 2018Combating extinction with citizen science
Jun 24, 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
Dec 25, 2023Merry Christmas!
Mar 21, 2021A glimpse of the Blue Forest
May 23, 2018Everybody loves World Turtle Day
Dec 13, 2020The view will stop you in your tracks
Aug 26, 2023Museum Night in Berlin
May 24, 2021A bridge comes full circle
Nov 12, 2025Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Jul 13, 2025Iceland for International Rock Day
Jul 19, 2018Cosplay strongly encouraged
Aug 25, 2021Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
Sep 7, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
Feb 24, 2021Getting to the bottom of the underwater waterfall
Dec 11, 2022Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Aug 12, 2022World Elephant Day
Aug 29, 2024Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Jun 4, 2019Breaking the fast for Eid
Aug 27, 2020Rocks on the move
Oct 29, 2025Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
Apr 3, 2021A light at the edge of the world
Apr 18, 2018A crested partridge
Sep 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Dec 23, 2022Gentoo penguins in Antarctica
Jan 12, 2021Sailing on thick ice
Dec 1, 2024Antarctica Day
Jul 3, 2024World Meerkat Day
Jul 19, 2020Venice by night
Apr 3, 2020The rainbow connection
Apr 29, 2025Formal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France