Though New York, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Orleans get most of the immigration spotlight, boats docked at ports all along the country's coastlines. The National Archives and Records Administration keeps records for many of these ports. Below, you'll find a handy list of dates for 23 popular entry points' records. For a complete rundown, look for the section on Available Immigration Records in the Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 3rd edition. If you can't find your ancestors at the first city you check, try others nearby. (Keep in mind that each port may not have complete coverage within the span of years listed.)

• Baltimore 1820-1897, 1891-1957