Most of those who settled in the city had to pass through Ellis Island, the busiest immigrant inspection station in the US during its time, located adjacent to the Statue of Liberty. They brought with them anything and everything they could fit in their suitcases.
“It speaks to the Arab immigrant experience, because what people were bringing with them were often small objects … what are you actually going to be able to do during this very arduous journey? What can you fit in a single case?” said Stephen Lean, director of the American Family Immigration History Centre inside the National Immigration Museum on Ellis Island.
Once they entered New York, Little Syria was right off the boat and immigrants soon put down roots.