U.S. Appraisers Stores and Immigration Station
historic place
In San Francisco, at 630 Sansome Street, stands the U.S. Appraisers Stores and Immigration Station. This historic place, also known as the Appraisers Building, was constructed between 1939 and 1944. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood in the PWA Art Moderne style, it began operations in 1944. Federal appraisal functions have been maintained on this site since 1874. The current building also assumed immigration functions, succeeding the Angel Island Immigration Station. Its upper floors initially housed a "detention hotel" until approximately 1960. This detention facility became notable, particularly for Chinese immigrants, and was connected to public concern due to incidents like suicides and hunger strikes. The detention quarters closed in 1954, though immigration offices remained. Today, the building continues to house federal immigration agencies. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This site illustrates San Francisco's role in federal appraisal and immigration history.