CURRICULUM FOR ONLINE VIDEO: A journey of days and the hopes of a lifetime. The story of the Ellis Island immigrant is a story that helps build the very foundation of this country and those who helped to build it into what it is. From its beginning as a 3 1/2 acre site to one of more than 27 acres to its growth as the gateway to the United States, this story takes you into the heart of the island and what it meant for the many whom would arrive at her shore.