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| Landmark #529 | Marin County | Visited: November 17, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A beautiful island where the first Spanish explorers entered San Francisco Bay, where troops deployed to fight multiple wars, and where newcomers to the United States were quarantined! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: In 1775, the packet San Carlos, first known Spanish ship to enter San Francisco Bay, anchored in this cove. While here, the commander, Lieut. Juan Manuel de Ayala, directed the first survey of the bay. This island, which Ayala named Isla de los Angeles, has been a Mexican rancho, a U.S. military post, a bay defense site, and a quarantine and immigration station.
OTHER TIDBITS: Ayala named the island La Isla de Los Angeles in the Spanish custom, because he landed on it three days after the Feast of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles! The island very quickly became a military outpost, first for the Spanish, then the Mexicans, then the Americans in 1863 to keep California from the Confederacy! Until the 1950s, Angel Island was predominantly a place for processing. Military troops would stop here first before launching into campaigns against the Native Americans, or later the Axis Powers, then return here once their campaigns ended. In many ways, Angel Island served as the gateway to the US, which, I guess, makes its name even more fitting! Anyone entering the US via Pacific had to pass through Angel Island starting in 1892 for document inspection and quarantine as necessary. While this was a fine idea in the beginning, it discriminated heavily against people from China, thanks to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882! Many immigrants were able to get by with little more than a cursory document check, but Chinese immigrants often had to stay in quarantine for months, sometimes even over a year! There is now a memorial to these newcomers who received the rudest welcome ever, though the only thing that can repay those who experienced this nightmare is to never let such a thing happen again! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Hospital Cove Angel Island State Park Tiburon, CA 94920 ANNOTATIONS: 21 Main St When you get off the boat and walk south past the café toward the visitor center, you’ll see the plaque right by the picnic tables! From Los Angeles: ~398mi (641km) — 6.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Check the ferry schedule for departure times! |
