U.S. Immigration Station period, 1910 - 1940

Arrival at Angel island
0:00:09 (silent)

View of the ferry approaching the wharf. The administration building, power house, employee cottages, fog bell, and baggage shed can be seen.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, c.1925

Inspection on the wharf
0:00:30 (silent)

Immigration official collects names from men on the wharf. The S.S. Angel Island is berthed in the background. The U.S. Coast Guard tower on the wharf is briefly seen.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, c.1925

Administration Building
0:00:09 (silent)

An immigration official leads a group of men along the wharf, to the ferry. The administration building is framed behind them, between two palm trees.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, c.1925

 

Immigrants Leaving Wharf
0:00:09 (silent)

A large group of immigrants walk off the wharf. The baggage shed is visible in the distance. The group ascends the steps of the administration building.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, c.1925

Registration Room
0:00:06 (silent)

Several immigrant men are held in the registry room of the former administration building. They look through the chain link fencing, awaiting their turn.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, c.1925

Columbus Crew Arrives
0:01:35 (with audio)

The SS Columbus burns in May 1939. The 512-man crew arrive in San Francisco before boarding the SS Angel Island in January 1940.

Courtesy of British Pathé, 1940

 

INSIDE THE MESS HALL
0:00:26 (silent)

A man looks at a “No Admittance” sign. The SS Columbus crew play games and listen to a radio in the barracks. The crew sits in the mess hall as food is passed around.

Courtesy of Sherman Grinberg, 1940

 

North Garrison, Fort McDowell period, 1941 - 1946

WWII Prisoners of War
0:02:51 (silent)

A group of enemy aliens/POWs can be seen entering the mess hall. Several German men play cards, read books, and look at pictures in the detention barracks.

Courtesy of University of South Carolina, 1943

 

Angel Island State Park period, 1963 - present

Forgotten angel
0:04:24 (silent)

The Immigration Station is shown 25 years after closing. Various neglected structures are featured including, the power house, barracks, mess hall, former wharf, and baggage shed.

Courtesy of Bay Area Television Archive, 1971

Detained at Liberty’s Door
0:12:17 (with audio)

Detained at Liberty's Door traces the formation of the Angel Island Immigration Station and highlights the story of Mrs. Lee Yoke Suey, who was detained for more than 15 months.

Courtesy of CHSA, 2014

California’s gold (Episode 408)
0:27:01 (With audio)

Host Huell Howser tours Angel Island and the Detention Barracks Museum. Footage of the Immigration Station begins at 0:05:10 and features interviews with former detainees.

Courtesy of Chapman University, 1993.


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