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Our Mission The of State Parks is Angel Island to provide for the health, inspiration and Angel Island played education of the of California by helping a major role in the to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and settlement of cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. and as an immigration station. and roads crisscross the island, providing easy access to historic sites California State Parks supports equal access. and breathtaking views Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at of , (415) 435-1915. If you need this publication in an Marin and the alternate format, contact [email protected]. Bridge. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

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Angel Island State Park P.O. Box 318 (mail) Tiburon, CA 94920 (415) 435-1915 www.parks.ca.gov/angelisland

© 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2014) A ngel Island is a grass- and woodland- During World War I, “the Guardian of the covered island in . Angel East Garrison served as a Gate,” processed nearly a million Island affords breathtaking vistas of Marin recruitment and replacement immigrants from more than 80 County, San Francisco and the Golden Gate. depot and a discharge point countries. Immigration staff ensured Coast once inhabited the island, and for returning troops. Angel that new arrivals were healthy and for nearly 100 years — from the Civil War Island was an embarkation self-sufficient. European immigrants to the — the federal government site for World War II soldiers and first-class passengers faced used its strategic location for military bases, headed toward the Pacific war only an inspection aboard ship and a quarantine station and an immigration zone and a processing facility were detained infrequently. station. Today, visitors can enjoy the view for prisoners of war. Chinese persons were specifically U.S. Immigration Station from the island’s historic sites and facilities. When troops returned, excluded from immigrating to the a 60-foot sign with the illuminated words U.S. by the of 1882. CULTURAL HISTORY “Welcome Home, Well Done” greeted Most of the 175,000 Chinese who arrived Early Inhabitants them from the island. In July 1946, the at Angel Island were detained for a few began visiting the island about Army abandoned the island, declaring it weeks — some were detained up to ninety 2,000 years ago. These indigenous people surplus property. days and a few for almost two years — while established camps and used the island The Army returned in 1954, during the Cold their applications were considered. Many primarily as a fishing and hunting site. War, to build a Nike missile site. By 1962 detainees expressed their anxiety and In 1775, Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Spanish the system had become obsolete, and the despair by writing and carving on the wooden navigator, sailed the San Carlos into San Army decommissioned the base and left the barracks walls. Some Chinese wrote poignant Francisco Bay and anchored in what is now island. Most of the island was turned over to poems, still legible today. Due to appeals, Ayala Cove. With his , José de Cañizares, California State Parks in 1963. most immigrants were eventually granted he developed one of the first maps of San The Quarantine Station entry to America. Francisco Bay. They christened the isle Isla de A 1940 fire destroyed the administration (Angel Island). In 1891 a Quarantine Station was opened at Ayala Cove (then known as Cove), building, closing the Immigration Station. The The Army on Angel Island where ships from foreign could be first restoration phase of this National Historic In 1863, during the Civil War, the U.S. Army fumigated and immigrants suspected of Landmark has been completed as a tribute to established Camp Reynolds on Angel Island carrying diseases could be kept in isolation. immigrants from around . to protect San Francisco Bay. The island later Better medical examinations at the ports of became a garrison for infantry companies, embarkation and improved medical practices including troops serving in campaigns against eventually made lengthy quarantines American Indians in the West. unnecessary; in 1946 the U.S. Public Health The Army designated the entire island Fort Service abandoned the Quarantine Station at McDowell and renamed Camp Reynolds the Angel Island. West Garrison in 1900. East Garrison at Quarry Point evolved from a detention camp for The U.S. Immigration Station soldiers returning from the Spanish-American From 1910 to 1940, the war to a service-discharge depot. Immigration Station (USIS), nicknamed Civil War reenactment at Camp Reynolds NATURAL HISTORY Camping The is Ten thousand years ago, this island was part The park’s four environmental camping 15 mph. Cyclists under of the mainland. Angel Island was created by areas have water and pit toilets nearby. age 18 must wear rising oceans at the end of an ice age. The Sites are generally protected helmets. Watch for Plant Life from wind. The more exposed Ridge Sites vehicles on roadways. In the 1800s, cattle grazing and wood offer views of the and Bicycles can be rented harvesting eliminated much of the native oak San Francisco. The Sunrise Sites can be seasonally from the woodland and coastal brush habitats covering reserved individually or combined as a Angel Island Company Angel Island. group camp for up to 24 people. The Kayak on the island. The U.S. Army and the Immigration Service Camp on the west side — near a small For more activity planted many non-native trees, such as beach — also accommodates groups up to information, visit 20. Kayak campers must secure their boats www.angelisland.com and Monterey . Since the Golden Gate Bridge view creation of the state park in 1963, oak, bay, from high tidewaters. Campers must carry or call (415) 435-3392. their equipment up to two miles and bring madrone and other native trees and shrubs Accessible FEATURES camp stoves or charcoal, as no wood fires are are reclaiming their habitats. Wildflowers A number of facilities, several restrooms, one allowed on the island. cover the island in spring. campsite and the tram tour are accessible. Animal Life Boating Visitors are encouraged to call the park in Deer and , both excellent swimmers, Boat slips are available first-come, first- advance or visit the website at http://access. are the only large mammals on the served from 8 a.m. until sunset. Overnight parks.ca.gov for more information about island. seals and California sea lions mooring buoys are available first-come, first- accessible features. often sun on the rocks. include scrub served. A fee is charged for both day-use and jays, hummingbirds, flickers, hawks and . overnight mooring, with a seven-night limit. please remember Near the coves, visitors find egrets, All boaters must tie fore and aft due to • State law protects all park natural and grebes, blue herons and brown pelicans. swift currents. cultural resources — wildlife, rocks, plants Tours and structures. Do not disturb them. Getting to the Island Tours of historic buildings and sites are • Only service animals are allowed on Angel Island is reachable year-round by available. Guided nature hikes can be Angel Island. public . For information, visit scheduled upon request, and tram tours are • Stay on designated trails to avoid ticks and www.parks.ca.gov/angelisland. available seasonally. Call (415) 435-5537 or poison oak. Activities and Services email [email protected] for • Do not feed raccoons or other wildlife. For camping and group picnic information and scheduling. • Roller skates, roller blades, scooters and skateboards are not allowed anywhere on reservations, call (800) 444-7275 Hiking and Bicycling the island. or visit www.parks.ca.gov. Hikers have 13 miles of trails and roadways, • Wood fires are not permitted. Picnicking while cyclists have access to nine miles. • Wind and weather conditions can change The island’s scenic picnic areas Foot trails and Mount Livermore are rapidly in all seasons. Dress in layers. have tables, running water closed to cyclists. and barbecues. Flicker F Samuel P. San Pablo e Point Campbell r a Taylor SP r d Bay y e t 101 o m 4 a T l 80 i Angel Island Camp A b / u d SP r China o n a State Park n Cove San l Richmond k Rafael 580 a O

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131 Angel Island SP Strait r r 1 e im F e Tiburon S t Point Simpton to an Fran e 24 cis r Mt Tamalpais SP Berkeley co R d 101 OAKLAND Point 80 Ione 580 Sa SAN FRANCISCO n P F r Café N a a o O c B n Ayala r i a c 880 t c y h e f 1 is 200 i c a c o Cove n 100 0 5 Mi 280 Visitor 300 East Bay Sites 400 Center 500 1, 2, 3 0 5 10 Km R Hill id Platform Group Picnic g

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This park receives support in Picnic t ra e T il Area s part through two nonprofit associations: n

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the Angel Island Conservancy S 600 T Guard (www.angelisland.org) and Draw Group rail Kayak Picnic Areas the Angel Island Immigration Group (A & B) Station Foundation Camp (www.aiisf.org). Mt Livermore Quarry Point Sunrise Sites 788ft 7, 8, 9 100 Site 10 240m T US Coast Guard 700 Ida rail Fort (off limits) Point Stuart Loop East Garrison McDowell Point Stuart Group Picnic (East Garrison) ANGEL ISLAND600 Area Quarry Camp Reynolds S TATE PARK Beach (West Garrison) e

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a Battery s Ridge o Battery 400 e R c Wallace Sites 4, 5, 6 Ledyard 300 Four e c ic A 100 rv Corners Se ic Rd bl r 200 200 Perimete Pu No US Coast Guard Nike Missile (off limits) 100 Site Battery San Legend Point Drew Knox Perles Francisco Park Land Beach Bay Park Land 0 400 Feet (No Entry After Sunset) 0 100 Meters US Coast Guard US Coast Guard (off limits) (off limits) Picnic Area Point Blunt Paved Road Accessible Feature Environmental Camping Overlook Boat Docks 8 a.m. to Park Building Restrooms Unpaved Road sunset; mooring buoys Group Picnic Area

© 2009 California State Parks (Rev. 2014) (No Bicycles) Drinking Water Information Park Office Map by Cartography, Berkeley, CA