ANGEL IMMIGRATION CENTER VISIT

“Ellis Island of the West”

Distance: 1.22 miles (2.44 miles round trip)Elevation Gain: 184 ft

SHUTTLE

Immigration shuttle service is available for a fee, to and from Ayala Cove (ferry landing) and the US Immigration Station. Tickets can be purchased at the Cove Café on Angel Island. Don't confuse the shuttle with the tram!  The tram is a one hour tour around the island; the shuttle is a ride to the USIS. 

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

The Visitor Center Room 105 on the first floor will be open for self-guided tours on the weekends.. The US Visitors are also encouraged to view the interpretive displays on the Grounds. 

Picnic Area

ROUTE

The shortest route is to walk up the Northridge Trail (trail head at Ayala Cove dock area), the trail starts off with 140 trail stairs, turn left when you reach the paved Perimeter Road and travel approximately one mile along the road to the USIS.  The USIS is on the left side and there are signs to direct you down the hill into the site.  Approximate walking time: 30-40 minutes

To avoid the stairs walk towards the Visitor Center in Ayala Cove and follow the road up the hill, turning left when the road 'T's, the walk is approximately 1.5 miles.Approximate walking time: 1 hour

There is a nice picnic area near the beach at the Immigration Station. Check out the immigration station bell and the Chinese immigrant memorial

Angel Island

Which of the following do you think Angel Island was used for in the past?

Fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians Coast Guard station Cattle Ranch U.S. Army Post U.S. Immigration Station Nike Missile Base World War II Prisoner of War Camp Safe haven for an early Spanish Explorer (Juan Manual de Ayala) All of the above

Answer: All of the above

Q&A

Q: What was the principle ethnicity of immigrants passing through Angel Island?A: Asian, predominantly Chinese

Q: What percentage of immigrants processed through Angel Island were Chinese?A: 97%

Q: What years was the immigration center in operationA: 1910- 1940

Q: How many immigrants came through Angel Island?A: 250,000

Q: Why were immigration centers put on islands?A: To quarantine immigrants from the population and prevent the outbreak of disease. Another possible reason is security, since the background of immigrants needed to be checked before they could be released into the general population.

Q: How long were immigrants detained on the island before they could reach the mainland?A: Most immigrants were detained on Angel Island for as little as two weeks or as much as six months. A few however, were forced to remain on the island for as much as two years.

Q: What were the ‘Chinese Exclusion Acts’ A: The influx of Asians into the United States, dating from the California Gold Rush, created tension between them and other immigrants. During the 1870s, an economic downturn resulted in serious unemployment problems, and led to outcries against Asian immigrants who would work for low wages. Restrictive immigration laws were passed that allowed entry only to those that had been born in the U.S. or had husbands or fathers who were citizens.

Q: Why were the ‘Chinese Exclusion Acts’ repealed in 1943?

A: China was an ally of the US in World War II