Angel Island History

From 1910 - 1940 immigrants entering the United States in the West passed through the Angel Island Immigration Station located next to Alcatraz near San Francisco, California.  It has been called the "Ellis Island of the West". This description is somewhat inaccurate though.  In 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed.  This made immigration very difficult.

 Many Chinese immigrants entered the country as "paper sons" by pretending to be the child of a US citizen.  All immigrants passed through a difficult screening process undergoing many difficult interviews and health screens.  

Men's Barracks 

Immigrants spent an average of 16 days living in the barracks though some detainees spent much longer.  As they waited, they carved their thoughts into the walls.

Learn more here.

sources: Island: Poetry and History of Chines Immigrants on Angel Island 1910-1940

KQED: Pacific Link