Blue sky view, towards Bay Bridge from ferry boat, Alcatraz Island, with former prison buildings, San Francisco Bay, California
Alcatraz, also known as 'The Rock', derives its name from the Spanish word for 'pelicans' (alcatraces), seen by Juan Manual de Ayala, charting San Francisco Bay in 1775. Following the US acquisition of California at the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, and also in response to the 1849 Gold Rush, the US Army considered establishing a coastal battery on the island to protect the approaches to San Francisco Bay. Fort Alcatraz, with 200 soldiers and eleven cannons was established by the 1850s. At the start of the American Civil War in 1861, the island had 85 cannons, increased to 105 by 1866. Alcatraz formed a 'triangle of defence' with Fort Point and Fort Baker either side of the Golden Gate Strait. As earl as 1861 the island had housed Confederate prisoners. 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, Alcatraz becoming the Western US Military Prison 21 March 1907. In 1909 construction began on the huge concrete main cell block, completed in 1912 and the island's dominant feature. The island was de-activated as a Military Prison in 1933. The US Department of Justice acquired it 12 October 1933 and Alcatraz became a Federal Prison in August 1934. It was designed to hold prisoners who continually caused trouble at other federal prisons. During its 29 years as a Federal Prison it held some of the most notorious criminals in American history. The penitentiary closed 21 March 1963. With all food and supplies shipped in, it had become too expensive to run. Salt water had severely corroded the Main Prison concrete. There were also complaints of sewage pollution of the bay waters from the 250 inmates and 60 Bureau of Prisons families on the island. Alcatraz was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The 26 m high concrete lighthouse at the south east end of the island, replacing an 1854 structure, was built in 1909 and automated in 1963.
Size: 4251px × 2793px
Location: Alcatraz Island, from ferry to Pier 41 towards Bay Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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