INSCAPE Building

Built in 1932 as the United States Immigration Station and Assay Office, this historic structure once processed, detained, and decided the fates of thousands of immigrants. Inside, the building still echoes with the past — original tiles, narrow hallways, and even former jail cells remain. But today, those same rooms are home to a community of local artists and a wide range of private offices. From the early enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act to detentions following 9/11, the building holds a complex legacy that’s now honored and shared through installations, oral histories, and a permanent exhibit curated by the Wing Luke Museum. The building closed in 2004, and reopened as Inscape Arts in 2010. With guidance from the local immigrant community, it was reimagined as a hub for artists, makers, and small businesses. Here, the past and future sit side by side — inviting reflection, innovation, and inspiration.