ANGLE ISLAND STATE PARK

OUR FAMILY HAS BIKED AROUND ANGEL ISLAND MANY TIMES VIA THE FERRY FROM TIBORON. MY SON AND I CAMPED THERE OVERNIGHT WITH HIS CLASS IN 4TH GRADE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISLAND THAT WAS FIRST OCCUPIED BY THE COAST MIWOK WITH 4 C HERE CAMPS HERE ABOUT 3,000 YEARS AGO. THEY HUNTED AND FISHED HERE. BEFORE HISTORIC USE THE PARK WAS MOSTLY COVERED WITH OAK WOODLANDS. NATIVE GRASSES AND NORTH COAST SCRUB. LATER IN THE 1800'S EUROPEAN GRASSES STARTED TO TAKE OVER THE PERENNIAL GRASSES. FIRE CUTTERS CHOPPED DOWN MUCH OF THE OAKS. OAKS, BAY, MADRONE,SAGEBRUSH, MANZANITA, TOYON, ELDERBERRY, COYOTE BUSH, AND DOUGLAS FIR ARE KNOW RECOVERED. ANIMALS AND BIRD LIFE IS ABUNDANT. SEALS AND SEA LIONS CAN BE SEEN, DEER AND RACCOONS ARE ABUNDANT. RABBITS, JUNCOS, HUMMINGBIRDS , FLICKERS, HAWKS, OWLS AND SEA GULLS AND KING FISHERS ARE ABUNDANT. THE OCEAN HAS SALMON, STRIPED BASS, AND OTHER FISH.

THE ISLAND HAS A SMALL BUS THAT CAN CARRY VISITORS AROUND THE ISLAND AND STOP FOR GOOD VISTAS PHOTOS. WHEN WE CAMPED THERE WE CAN IN THE 788' MT. LIVERMORE ON A ROAD THAT WAS LIKE A FIRE BREAK.

IN 1892 A QUARANTINE STATION WAS OPENED AT AYALA COVE. - KNOWN AS A HOSPITAL. THERE ARE 40 BUILDINGS AT THE COVE AS BARRACKS. THIS WAS WHERE SHIPS FROM FOREIGN PORTS WERE FUMIGATED. THIS WAS WHERE THE SHIPS FROM FOREIGN PORTS WERE FUMIGATED. ONCE MEDICARE IMPROVED WE DID NOT NEED QUARANTINE STATIONS. THESE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED IN THE 1950'S IMPROVED WE DID NOT NEED A QUARANTINE STATION. THESE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED IN THE 1950'S. THERE ARE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES HOUSES WHERE PARK PERSONNEL STAY.

IN 1775 MANUEL DE AYALA BROUGHT HIS SHIP HERE INTO THE BAY. HE WANTED TO DEVELOP AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE BAY FOR FUTURE SHIPS FROM SPAIN. HIS PILOT EXPLORED THE BAY AND MADE THE NECESSARY MAP WORK. THIS MAP IS NOW FIRST OF THIS WORLD FAMOUS HARBOR. AYALA CALLED "ANGEL ISLAND" ISLA DE LOS ANGELES AFTER A RELIGIOUS FEAST DAY.

IN 1808 THE RUSSIAN SEA OTTER HUNTING MEN ESTABLISHED A STOREHOUSE ON THE ISLAND. THERE IS A DEEP WATER CHANNEL BETWEEN TIBURON AND ANGEL ISLAND CALLED RACOON STRAIT AND AYALA'S CREW MAPPED IT. IN 1839 THE GOOVERNOR APPROVED ANTONIO OSLO, A SPANIARD, TO GIVE HIM ANGEL ISLAND FOR CATTLE RANCHING. BUT SOME OF THE ISLAND WAS RESERVED FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HARBOR. HE HAD SEVERAL HOUSES BUILT FOR USE BY HIS HERDERS. HE NEVER LIVED HERE.

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