Tens of thousands of immigrants to the United States came through Angel Island from 1910 to 1950. Though the exact amount of people who passed through is unknown, it served as a detention site and a records office for those entering and exiting the United States. With the start of the Gold Rush in Northern California, the majority of the immigrant influx came from China — though it estimated that citizens from more than 80 countries entered the United States here.
Angel Island has been called the Ellis Island of the West Coast. It serves as a reminder of the complicated history of immigration from the Pacific, where immigrants were more often detained or excluded rather than welcomed. The building was abandoned in the 1950s and remained in a state of deterioration until nearly demolished. The discovery of Chinese poetry carved into walls ignited an interest in restoring and preserving the site, which can be toured today. There are also popular hiking trails with views of the bay located on the island.
Angel Island is located in the north of San Francisco Bay, nearby to Alcatraz Island. Get there from San Francisco via ferry into Ayala Cove. From there it is a 1.5 mile walk to the Immigration Station. The museum there is open from 11 am to 3 pm daily, with a $5 admission charge.