Fort McDowell

Angel Island wasn't just used as a tourist zone for an island for agrarian purposes. It was in the 19th century that the US army renamed Angel Island, "Fort McDowell" and developed further facilities there used for the current situation including what is now called the East Garrison or Camp McDowell. There was a quarantine station that was opened in Ayala Cove in 1891. Furthermore it was during the Spanish-American War that the island served as a discharge depot for returning troops. The island served as a transit station throughout the first half of the twentieth century, with troops in World War I embarking and returning there. During World War II the necessity for troops in the Pacific far exceeded prior needs. The facilities on Angel Island were expanded and further processing was done at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Prior to the war the infrastructure had been expanded including building the Army ferry General Coxe, which transported troops to and from Angel Island on a regular schedule. Finally the island was decommissioned in 1962.

-Andrew Yu

Sources:
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/angel/angel.htm
http://www.onscenicroutes.com/angelislandmain.html