Dorm Life
Detainees confined on Ellis Island had a berth in one of the dormitories on the island. Each dormitory room could hold around 300 people. Still, they were always full. Some dormitory rooms had triple-level bunk beds to accommodate so many people. The bunk beds were not exactly luxurious. The beds were metal frames with wire mesh or canvas to lay on, adjustable to create more waiting space. Detainees were given blankets, but no sheets or pillows. While this arrangement was far from luxurious, it was a bed under a roof at the very least. But the class distinctions of the ships they took from Europe to America held fast; the rare detainees from the first and second class on their ships stayed in areas with plenty of space and amenities. These lucky souls had beds with mattresses, sheets, and pillows with fresh pillowcases.