Stone Carver Engraves Quote at Immigrant Point Overlook

Presidio of San Francisco (June 21, 2007) — A stone mason is at work at Presidio’s Immigrant Point Overlook, chiseling a Woodrow Wilson quote into the stone with the Pacific Ocean as his backdrop. The overlook is located on Washington Boulevard in the Presidio and the stone carver is on site daily until June 29.

The quote reads: “We opened the gates to all the world and said: ‘Let all men who want to be free come to us and they will be welcome.'”

Immigrant Point was a gift to Presidio visitors by the Sarlo Foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund and George Sarlo, a Hungarian immigrant and his wife Sejong, who is originally from Korea. The overlook was named in honor of the millions of immigrants for whom the Golden Gate symbolizes a new beginning in a new land.

Since it opened in 2005, Immigrant Point has served as the site of an annual naturalization ceremony for new immigrants through a partnership with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The overlook is on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean and has stunning views of the ocean and the Headlands.

The carving is being done by a local stone mason who is based in the East Bay. He is at the site daily until June 29 and available for interviews upon request.