Blue sky white clouds ferry view, Powerhouse chimney, Water Tower, Main Cell Block, north-east side Alcatraz, San Francisco
Alcatraz derives its name from the Spanish word for 'pelicans' (alcatraces), seen by the first Spanish exploration of San Francisco Bay in 1775. In response to the acquisition of California in 1848 and the rapid rise in San Francisco's population during the 1849 Gold Rush, the US Army established a fort on the island, Alacatraz having 85 cannons in1861, increasing to 105 in 1866. After the Civil War, the island, isolated by the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, switched its role to one of detention. The island became the Western US Military Prison in 1907,c onstruction of the huge concrete Main Cell Block, the island's dominant feature, being completed in 1912. The US Department of Justice acquired the island in 1933 and Alcatraz became a Federal Prison in August 1934. The penitentiary closed in 1963. With all food and supplies shipped in, the prison has become too expensive to run. Salt water had also severely corroded the Main Prison concrete. Alcatraz was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The 29 m (94 ft) Water Tower (right of shot) was built 1940-41 to hold 250,000 US gallons (950,000 litres) of water for drinking, firefighting and laundry. Water was brought in by tug and barge. The ruined building in the centre of the shot is the remains of the Powerhouse, constructed in 1939 as part of a $ million modernisation project. The Penitentiary Ding Hall and Main Cell Block are seen on the island's summit. A view of the north-east side of the island from a Bay ferry.
Size: 5396px × 3546px
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: alcatraz, american, bay, block, blue, buildings, california, cell, chimney, cliffs, clouds, dining-room, federal, francisco, historic, island, main, north-east, penitentiary, powerhouse, prison, san, seawater, side, sky, tower, usa, view, water, white
