The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island - by Megan Smolenyak (Paperback)

About the Book

On January 1, 1892, Annie Moore of Ireland tripped into the pages of history and became the poster child of immigration by being the first to arrive at Ellis Island. She's since been immortalized on stage and in music, museums, books, and of course, pub names. Statues of her adorn Ellis Island where she stands as a symbol of the American Dream and at the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork, Ireland where she represents millions who have emigrated over the centuries and scattered their gifts around the globe.

And yet, we got her story completely wrong.

Megan Smolenyak is the determined sleuth who discovered this case of historical identity theft and devoted years to figuring out how it happened, finding the true Annie, and unveiling what her life was really like. Follow along as the author parks you on her shoulder and unravels the mystery of Ellis Island's first.

Book Synopsis

On January 1, 1892, Annie Moore of Ireland tripped into the pages of history and became the poster child of immigration by being the first to arrive at Ellis Island. She's since been immortalized on stage and in music, museums, books, and of course, pub names. Statues of her adorn Ellis Island where she stands as a symbol of the American Dream and at the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork, Ireland where she represents millions who have emigrated over the centuries and scattered their gifts around the globe.

And yet, we got her story completely wrong.

Megan Smolenyak is the determined sleuth who discovered this case of historical identity theft and devoted years to figuring out how it happened, finding the true Annie, and unveiling what her life was really like. Follow along as the author parks you on her shoulder and unravels the mystery of Ellis Island's first.

History buffs, genealogists, and mystery enthusiasts will enjoy the ride, as will those interested in immigration and tales of the long overlooked.

Review Quotes

Praise for Megan Smolenyak's research and books:

"Watch out Watson and Crick! Megan Smolenyak decodes our fascinating, complicated past in this tour de force of detective work."
-- Ken Burns, on Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing

"Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story."
-- Sam Roberts, The New York Times

"Megan's work is spectacular."
-- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

"No one is better than Megan Smolenyak at finding - and getting to the bottom of - history's mysteries. Once she latches on to a subject, she doesn't let go until she's turned up every shred of hard evidence. And she makes the search itself more compelling than any detective thriller... Megan invites us along as she excavates the past for incredible stories and champions those who've been overlooked by history. She is, hands down, America's greatest genealogist."
-- Andrew Carroll, editor of the New York Times bestsellers War Letters and Behind the Lines

"The Indiana Jones of genealogy...Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure."
-- Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree and To Die Beautiful

"In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement."
-- Kirkus Reviews, "Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher," on Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing

About the Author

Megan Smolenyak is a real life history detective who loves to solve mysteries. You might have spotted Megan or her handiwork on the front pages of The New York Times and Wall Street Journal or on Top Chef, Finding Your Roots, Who Do You Think You Are?, Faces of America, Good Morning America, the Today Show, CNN, PBS and NPR. Formerly Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com, she is the author of seven books, including Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing and Who Do You Think You Are? (companion to the TV series), and has conducted extensive forensic research for the Army, coroners, NCIS, and the FBI.