I went out to Ellis Island this weekend when my family was visiting. I've been before and am always in love with the tiles. The building was designed by the architects Boring and Tilton and processed 17 million people from 1892 to 1954. The ceiling of the great hall was done by the immigrant founder of a very successful tile company, Rafael Guastavino. The layering of tiles produced a very strong, arched surface, which can be seen in buildings throughout the United States including the City Hall subway station, the Municipal Building, the Queensboro Bridge arcade, the Biltmore Estate, Grant's Tomb and many others.
Also throughout the main building are subtle decorate mosaic elements that surround terrazzo floors, an ancient Venetian invention that uses crushed stone set into concrete and polished.
