Annie Moore
First immigrant to pass through Ellis Island
About Annie Moore
Lived 1874 – 1924 (aged 50). Annie Moore was an Irish and American.
Immigration Moore arrived at Ellis Island from County Cork, Ireland, aboard the Guion Line steamship Nevada on January 1, 1892. Her brothers, Anthony and Philip, who journeyed with her, had just turned 15 and 12, respectively. They lived on the few same blocks on Manhattan's Lower East Side until Moore passed away. On October 11, 2008, a dedication ceremony was held at Calvary which celebrated the unveiling of a marker for her grave, a Celtic Cross made of Irish Blue Limestone.
According to "family lore," Moore was such a large woman that, when she died, the casket carrying her body had to be brought through the house via a window as the narrow doorways could not accommodate the width.
Legacy Annie Moore is honored by two statues sculpted by Jeanne Rynhart. One stands near Cobh Heritage Centre (formerly Queenstown), her port of departure, and another at Ellis Island, her port of arrival. The image is meant to represent the millions who passed through Ellis Island in pursuit of the American dream.
Annie Moore's life also inspired the song "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears", which was written by Brendan Graham after visiting Ellis Island. The song has been performed by Ronan Tynan, The Irish Tenors, Sean Keane, Dolores Keane, Daniel O'Donnell, Celtic Thunder, Celtic Woman, Tommy Fleming and The High Kings.
Things named in honour of Moore include the Annie Moore Award, presented annually by the Irish American Cultural Institute, a utility vessel operated for the National Park Service, and a software program developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Lund University in Sweden, and the University of Oxford in Britain which uses a "matching algorithm" to allocate refugees with no ties to the host country to their new homes.
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Important facts
People in Annie Moore's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Annie Moore's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Annie Moore?
first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island
When was Annie Moore born?
Annie Moore was born on 24 April 1874 in Cork.
When did Annie Moore die?
Annie Moore died on 6 December 1924 in Manhattan.
What nationality was Annie Moore?
Annie Moore was Irish and American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Annie Moore (immigrant)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Annie Moore. https://biography.guide/annie-moore/
MLA: "Annie Moore." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/annie-moore/.
Chicago: "Annie Moore." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/annie-moore/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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