Blue sky white view from ferry at north of island Model Industries Building, Water Tower, Powerhouse, 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, construction 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 heavily-corroded Model Industries Building on (right mid-distance) was built as a laundry building by the US Military. It was used as a laundry until 1939. The Powerhouse and Chimney (left of shot) were built 1939 as part of a $ million dollars modernisation project. A view from San Francisco Bay Ferry cruising past the north end of the island.
Size: 5416px × 3328px
Location: Water Tower, Powerhouse, Model Industries Building, north side Alcatraz, from San Francisco Bay
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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