Angel Island
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Our Mission The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the Angel Island people of California by helping to preserve Angel Island played the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and a major role in the State Park cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. settlement of the West GRAY DAVIS and as an immigration Governor MARY D. NICHOLS station. Today, trails Secretary for Resources and roads crisscross RUTH COLEMAN Acting Director, California State Parks the land, providing easy access to many historic sites and breathtaking California State Parks does not discriminate views of San Francisco, against individuals with disabilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need Marin County and the assistance should contact the park at the phone number below. To receive this publication in an Golden Gate Bridge. alternate format, write to the Communications Office at the following address. CALIFORNIA For information call: STATE PARKS (800) 777-0369 P. O. Box 942896 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. Sacramento, CA 711, TTY relay service 94296-0001 www.parks.ca.gov Angel Island State Park P.O. Box 318 Tiburon, CA 94920 (415) 435-1915 © 2003 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper 9/4/03, 4:14 PM 4:14 9/4/03, 1 AIbrochure © 2003 California State Parks Paper State Recycled California on 2003 © Printed (415) 435-1915 (415) iburon, CA 94920 CA iburon, T .O. Box 318 Box .O. P Angel Island State Park State Island Angel www.parks.ca.gov 94296-0001 711, TTY relay service relay TTY 711, Sacramento, CA Sacramento, (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. the outside 653-6995, (916) O. Box 942896 Box O. P. (800) 777-0369 (800) STATE PARKS STATE For information call: information For CALIFORNIA Office at the following address. following the at Office alternate format, write to the Communications the to write format, alternate Golden Gate Bridge. Gate Golden number below. To receive this publication in an in publication this receive To below. number assistance should contact the park at the phone the at park the contact should assistance and the and County Marin arrival, visitors with disabilities who need who disabilities with visitors arrival, against individuals with disabilities. Prior to Prior disabilities. with individuals against n Francisco, n Sa of views California State Parks does not discriminate not does Parks State California d breathtaking d an sites access to many historic many to access oviding easy oviding pr land, the Acting Director, California State Parks State California Director, Acting RUTH COLEMAN RUTH s crisscross s road and Secretary for Resources for Secretary day, trails day, To station. MARY D. NICHOLS D. MARY Governor immigration an as and GRAY DAVIS GRAY settlement of the West the of settlement r high-quality outdoor recreation. outdoor high-quality r fo State Park State cultural resources, and creating opportunities creating and resources, cultural a major role in the in role major a protecting its most valued natural and natural valued most its protecting the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, biological extraordinary state’s the Angel Island Angel A ngel Island played Island ngel people of California by helping to preserve to helping by California of people health, inspiration and education of the of education and inspiration health, Recreation is to provide for the for provide to is Recreation and Parks Department of Department California the of mission The Our Mission Our A ngel Island is a grass- and woodland- The Immigration Station covered mountain island with spectacular New immigration facilities opened on Angel views of Marin County, San Francisco and the Island in 1910 to replace old, cramped quarters Golden Gate. Coast Miwok once inhabited on a San Francisco pier. Most Immigration the island, and for nearly 100 years—from Station detainees were from China. Chinese the Civil War to the Cold War—the federal were specifically targeted for exclusion from government used its strategic location for immigration to the United States by the military bases, a quarantine station and an Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. immigration station. Today, trails and roads From 1910 to 1940, this was the entry point provide access to the many historic sites, for approximately 175,000 Chinese immigrants facilities and breathtaking views. who came to the United States. Most were detained on Angel Island from two weeks to CULTURAL HISTORY School children watching a living history demonstration six months, until their applications were Early Inhabitants approved. Many were denied entry. By Coast Miwok began visiting the island about detention camp for soldiers returning from the contrast, European immigrants and first class two thousand years ago. The Miwok established Spanish-American war to a discharge depot. passengers usually faced only an inspection camps and primarily used the island as a By 1905 some 87,000 men had passed on board the ship and were never detained fishing and hunting site. through the fort. on Angel Island. In 1775 Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Span- During World War I, East Garrison served Some Chinese detainees expressed their ish navigator, sailed the San Carlos into San as a recruitment and replacement depot and anxiety and despair in poetry carved on the Francisco Bay and anchored in what is now a discharge point for troops returning from wooden walls of the detention center. Many Ayala Cove. With his pilot, José de Cañizares, the war. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the of these poems are still legible today. A fire he developed one of the first maps of San fort processed the transfer of about 40,000 in 1940 destroyed the administration build- Francisco Bay. They christened the island men per year. ing and hastened the station’s abandon- Isla de Los Angeles. Angel Island was an embarkation site for ment. The Chinese Exclusion Act and The Army on Angel Island replacement troops headed toward the subsequent laws were repealed in 1943. In 1863 during the Civil War, the U. S. Army Pacific war zone during World War II and a The Quarantine Station established Camp Reynolds on Angel Island to processing facility for prisoners of war. When In 1891 a Quarantine Station was opened at protect San Francisco Bay. The island later troops returned from the war, a 60-foot sign Ayala Cove (then known as Hospital Cove), became a garrison for infantry companies, as with the illuminated words “Welcome Home, where ships from foreign ports could be well as infantry serving in campaigns against Well Done” greeted them from the island. In fumigated and immigrants suspected of the Apache, Sioux, Modoc and other Native July 1946 the Army abandoned the island, carrying diseases could be kept in isolation. Americans in the West. declaring it surplus property. The 40 buildings at the station included a 400- The Army designated the entire island “Fort The Army returned during the Cold War to bed detention barracks, a disinfecting plant, McDowell,” and renamed Camp Reynolds the build a Nike missile battery. By 1962 the laboratories and quarters for employees. As West Garrison in 1900. New facilities at Quarry system had become obsolete, and the Army better medical examinations at the ports of Point, called East Garrison, evolved from a decommissioned the base and left the island. embarkation and improved medical practices Animal Life Tours View Deer and racoons, both excellent swimmers, are Tours of historic buildings and sites are of Marin the only large mammals living on the island. available. Docent-led nature hikes can be Headlands Squirrels, rabbits, foxes, skunks, opossums, scheduled upon request. For information from Angel coyotes and other mammals never made the and scheduling, contact the Angel Island Island crossing. You can often see harbor seals and Association at (415) 435-3522. Tram tours are California sea lions sunning on the rocks. Birds, available seasonally through the park con- not limited by the water crossing, include scrub cessionaire, Angel Island Tram Tours and jays, hummingbirds, flickers, hawks and owls. Catered Events. Call (415) 897-0715 or visit Gulls, ducks, egrets, grebes, blue herons www.angelisland.com for information. and brown pelicans are often found Hiking and Bicycling around the coves. There are 12 miles of trails and roadways for GETTING TO THE ISLAND hiking and bicycling. Foot trails and Mount Angel Island is accessible year round by public Livermore are closed to cyclists. The speed ferries. For information call: limit is 15 mph, and cyclists age 17 and under made lengthy quarantines • Angel Island–Tiburon Ferry (415)435-2131 are required to wear helmets. Bicycles can be unnecessary, the U.S. Public www.angelislandferry.com rented in season from the Cove Café. Call Health Service abandoned • Blue and Gold Fleet (415)773-1188 (415) 897-0715 for information. the Quarantine Station and www.blueandgoldfleet.com ACCESSIBLE FEATURES moved to San Francisco. Flicker ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES A number of facilities, several restrooms, and NATURAL HISTORY Picnic areas have tables, running water and the tram tour are accessible. Because of the hilly terrain and ongoing improvements, Formation of the Island barbecues. Reserve group picnic areas by visitors with mobility disabilities are encour- Ten thousand years ago, the island was con- calling (800)444-7275. aged to call in advance to get to the more nected to the mainland. Angel Island was Environmental camping is available in far-flung accessible places. See map. created by the rise of the oceans at the end of designated sites. Campers must carry their the ice age. equipment up to two miles to reach the PLEASE REMEMBER campsites. Each campsite has a table, food Plant Life • Stay on designated trails to avoid poison In the 1800s cattle grazing and wood harvesting locker, running water, pit toilet and barbecue.