The historic Angel Island Immigration Station will host a Family Day this Saturday.
The sold-out event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a round trip ferry ride from either Tiburon or San Francisco, a shuttle service to the Immigration Station and lunch from Shef, an online marketplace for cooks to connect with customers in their community and earn income selling homemade dishes.
Angel Island, located in San Francisco Bay, gained prominence in the mid-19th century as a gateway for immigrants coming to the United States.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and subsequent restrictive immigration policies led to the creation in 1910 of the Angel Island Immigration Station, where immigrants were detained and interrogated before being allowed entry into the country.
From 1910 to 1940, it served as the West Coast counterpart to Ellis Island, receiving immigrants primarily from Asia. During this period, thousands of immigrants, from China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries endured long and arduous detentions, sometimes lasting months or even years. The conditions on the island were often harsh, with detainees facing strict interrogations, inadequate facilities and discriminatory treatment.
“Like Ellis Island in New York, Angel Island offered an isolated location that could be tightly controlled,” a sign on the island reads. “Unlike Ellis Island, Angel Island came to symbolize discrimination and exclusion instead of welcome.”
Angel Island is now a state park and a National Historic Landmark. It offers visitors a glimpse into the past, with restored buildings and exhibits that tell the stories of the immigrants and detainees.
The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation states that it works to bring its history to light and to make the lessons about the complicated intersection of race, immigration and the American identity a part of the national dialogue.
Family Day on the island is a celebration of family, connection and heritage. Activities for Saturday include a genealogy workshop; video screenings that highlight history, communities coming together and current day stereotypes; arts, crafts and performances.
For more information, see www.aiisf.org/familyday.
11 comments
“…Restrictive immigration policies…” . . . . . Hmm?
At one point we were allowed to have actual policies. And restrictions.
Fun fact: Angel Island is the result of global warming. It separated from the north end of the bay, (Marin County) about 10,000 years ago when the sea level rose at the end of the Ice Age. Most of the island is within the city limits of Tiburon, and a very small section is within the city limits of San Francisco.
Sold out huh???
My grandpa and grandma came to America after WW II … from Hungary and Poland … legally … let me say that again … LEGALLY … get it?
Some people did respect the law. Unlike today.
CORRECTION … after WW I
Family Day??
With Drag queens twerking?
Dykes on bikes?
It’s all about inclusion!
.
DEPORT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
.
We don’t care what country they came from. They’re not supposed to be here. PERIOD.
Deport and if they try to come back, Apache Helicopters and miniguns.
Angel Island is a fascinating place to explore. I’ve camped there a couple of times and hiked it several more with the Scouts. The ferry ride from Vallejo was just the start of the adventure. The immigration station feels like a human warehouse, and there is poetry carved into some of the walls. The island is also home to some Nike missile bases. One night we hiked to the top of the island and had the most spectacular view of the Bay.
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