Dentention and Discharge Camps

During the Spanish-American War and the following Philippine Insurrection, activity increased on the island due to the post processing of men on their way to and from overseas duty.  A Detention Camp was established on the east side of the Island, in 1899 to house returning troops who had been stricken with, or exposed to, contagious diseases (which was practically a quarantine camp). The 31st Volunteer Infantry used to camp for some of its soldiers with smallpox. In May of 1901 the Detention Camp was moved to Point Simpton and a Discharge Camp was set up by the quarry. All needed facilities were available to the returning soldiers, including a railroad ticket office and Wells Fargo Express Company office.

Fort Mcdowell

http://angelisland.org/history/ft-mcdowell-aka-east-garrison/

Fort Mcdowell Battery Emplacement

Battery Ledyard housed two 5" guns with Barbette carriages


http://usforting.com/2009/09/04/fort-mcdowell-on-angel-island/

Bird's Eye view of the Island

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2010/01/20/tomorrow-is-national-angel-island-day/

Access to Angel Island

The only way to access angel island is by private boat or a public ferry from the following locations: San Francisco, Tiburon, or Vallejo. Public ferry hours are reduced during the winter. Bicycles may be brought to the island or rented along with Segways to be used along the island's main roads. While bicycles and segways are allowed, rollerskates and skateboards are prohibited from use on the island for public safety. There are also public areas on the park designated for barbecues and picnics. Night travel is also prohibited on some parts of the island due to security and safety concerns.

http://angelisland.org/visitor-information/

Flames

In 1940, there was a fire that causes the Angel Island administration building to be burned, losing all of the files that could be used to hold against the Chinese. The United States then abandoned the immigration station. The Chinese Exclusion Act was then later repealed, allowing the Chinese to continue to settle in America. Because of that fire, the Chinese could state that they were a U.S. citizen. Soon, “paper sons” began to enter the U.S. They were given a small strip of paper to memorize, as well as a photo to look at. This contained all the information they needed to enter the U.S.

-Patrick Li

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10713017?source=pkg

The Chinese Exclusion Act

Because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, many of the Chinese who now immigrated to China were forced to answer difficult questions. They had to prove that they had a father or husband in America in order to enter. They also had to answer difficult questions, some consisting of Chinese villages and family history, that most Chinese were unable to answer. Men and women were housed separately, spending much of their time in the barracks. This caused many of the Chinese to start carving on the walls, writing poems and messages to express their fear and anger. Immigrants were held for weeks, months and sometimes even years.

-Patrick Li

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=468

The Chinese People

Many people of different ethnicities immigrated to America. The Chinese immigrated to the United States for better lives. Before the 1900s, most of their work consisted of farming, mining and railroads. The Chinese men would send money back home for their families. The Americans hated the Chinese because the Chinese worked for low wages and took the jobs from Americans. The Americans accused the Chinese of monopolizing all the jobs. This caused the Americans to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act.

-Patrick Li

http://angelisland.org/