WEST
Angel Island
San Francisco, Calif.<www.aiisf.org/planyourvisit>
The “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island Immigration Station received some 500,000 immigrants between 1910 and 1940, most of them from countries in Asia (notably China, Japan and India). A museum there offers self-guided tours that share immigrants’ experiences; many new arrivals faced strict examinations, race-based immigration quotas, and other discriminatory policies.
Note that the museum is somewhat isolated. You’ll need to take a ferry to the island, then walk or bike about 1.5 miles (though a shuttle is available).
FamilySearch Library
Salt Lake City, Utah
<www.familysearch.org/en/library/visit>
This flagship genealogy library houses books, microfilm, CDs, periodicals and maps from around the world. An increasing amount of the library’s materials>. But an in-person visit to the library allows you to view materials that can’t be digitized to the public due to copyright restrictions. You can also get help from on-the-ground genealogy experts.
