Angel Island State Park

The walls of the detention barracks at the U.S. Immigration Station, Angel Island are filled with poetry, written and carved by immigrants expressing their feelings of frustration, anger, and hope.

Historically called the “Guardian of the Western Gate” by staff, the U.S. Immigration Station, second in size only to Ellis Island in New York, was built to enforce immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act. People from over 80 countries, were detained on Angel Island between 1910-1940 and the largest groups were immigrants from China, Japan, Russia, and India.

Explore our program offerings and teacher resources below to discover how to connect with Angel Island State Park.