In 1940, a fire that destroyed the administration building in August of that year hastened the government decision to abandon the Immigration Station on Angel Island. On November 5, the last group of about 200 immigrants, including about 150 Chinese, were transferred from Angel Island to temporary quarters in San Francisco. The so-called "Chinese Exclusion Acts," which were adopted in the early 1880's were repealed by Federal action in 1943, because by that time, China was an ally of the US in World War II. Today, most visitors to Angel Island find the Immigration Station a place of reflection. While often called the Ellis Island of the West, the Angel Island Immigration Station, was in fact quite different. Arrivals at Ellis Island were welcomed to this country, by the near by Statue of Liberty and screened primarily for medical reasons leaving an average of 2-3 hours of arriving. At Angel Island, the objective was to exclude new arrivals, the memories of many returning visitors are therefore bittersweet. A museum has been established in the old barracks building. It includes a re-creation of one of the dormitories, and highlights some of the poems that were carved into the station's walls.
By Crystal Thai
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