Angel Island, Guardian of the Western Gate

California State Park interpreter John, will provide a live program from the US Immigration Station, Angel Island. The walls of the historic detention barracks are filled with poetry, written and carved by immigrants expressing their feelings of frustration, anger, and hope.

Historically called the “Guardian of the Western Gate” by immigration staff, the station is second in size only to Ellis Island in New York. The detention facility was built to enforce immigration laws of the era including the Chinese Exclusion Act. People from over 80 countries, were detained on Angel Island between 1910-1940, the largest groups were immigrants from China, Japan, Russia, and India.

PRESENTER BIO:

John Clagett has been a State Park Interpreter I at Angel Island State Park for the last 3 years as the lead for Distance Learning Program for the Immigration Museum.  He has worked for California State Parks for 15 years at 6 different parks and started as a volunteer demonstrating blacksmithing.