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San Francisco Bay, California

Angel Island Immigration Station

From 1910 to 1940, the U.S. Immigration Station on Angel Island processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, most of them from China because of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Detained immigrants carved poems into the barracks walls, which can still be seen.

Official visitor website(opens parks.ca.gov in a new tab)
Historic wooden buildings of the Angel Island Immigration Station on a hillside.

All landmarks

Photo: Hart Hyatt North (historic photograph), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The story

  • Immigration & Becoming American

Why it matters

From 1910 to 1940, the U.S. Immigration Station on Angel Island processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, most of them from China because of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Detained immigrants carved poems into the barracks walls, which can still be seen.

Why it may matter to you

It offers a West Coast and Pacific view of immigration, and a reminder of how laws once excluded people by nationality.

The fuller story

Many people were held here for weeks or longer and questioned intensely. During World War II, the station was also used to hold Japanese and German prisoners of war.

Plan your visit

Hours, prices, reservations, and closures change. Check the official visitor website.
Time to allow
Most of a day, including the ferry (our estimate)
Setting
Indoor and outdoor
Tickets and reservations
The Detention Barracks Museum charges admission; the Angel Island Immigration Museum is free. Museum hours are limited.

Confirmed on the operator's site on October 31, 2026: California State Parks lists the Angel Island Immigration Museum as free and the Detention Barracks Museum as having an entry fee.

Getting there
Reached by ferry from San Francisco Bay ports such as Tiburon. Check ferry schedules before you go.
With family
Hilly paths between the ferry dock and the station; bring water and layers.
Seasons and weather
Bay weather can be foggy and windy year-round.
Accessibility
See the operator's website for accessibility information.
Times are estimates and distances are straight-line. Citizen Navigator is an independent educational resource. Visitor access and conditions change. Confirm current details with the destination's official operator.