The walls of the Detention Barracks Museum at the historic U.S. Immigration Station are filled with poetry and inscriptions, written and carved by immigrants expressing frustration, anger, and hope.
Built to enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the U.S. Immigration Station at Angel Island detained people from 80 countries between 1910-1940. Many immigrants arrived on the island only to find that their entry might be denied because of laws targeting immigrants with Asian ancestry, certain disabilities or diseases, or a lack of money. The barracks that once detained these individuals stands today as a museum that you can visit in-person or virtually.
We also offer guided tours with limited availability and free virtual tours. You can also sign up for notifications for new in-person reservation dates.
For questions, please contact tours.angelisland@parks.ca.gov or (415) 435-5537.
Bring your group for a self-guided experience!
Reserve a 1-hour in-person SELF-GUIDED experience at the Detention Barracks Museum. Non-school groups with less than 10 people do not need a reservation. Enjoy a 35-minute hike (watch out for hills and trail stairs!) to the museum where you will meet parks staff for an introduction to the museum. This reservation does NOT include an audio tour.
This is a paid program. Payment is taken on-site on the day of the tour:
K-12 Schools (extracurricular programs do not qualify): $3 (Adults and Youth)
General Public: $5 (Adults), $3 (Youth 5-17), Free (Under 5)
All ages are welcome. Groups larger than 30 people (40 people for K-12 grade school groups) must book multiple timeslots. This is not a guided tour.