Description
Angel Island was the west coast gateway to America, it is now a state park and sister to Ellis Island.
While immigrants from Europe usually spent a few hours before being accepted, many who came
through the west, mostly from Asia, were detained for months, even years, in deplorable conditions
before being allowed entry. The US government was giving out the message that these people,
especially the Chinese, were not welcome in America. The number on this immigration station door
at some time in the past, was changed from “4”, to “1.”
