Memorable World History/Authors

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island (/ˈælkəˌtræz/,Spanish pronunciation: [al-ka-tɾas] (Latin America)/Spanishpronunciation: [al-ka-tɾaθ] (Spain)[4] from Arabic: غطاس‎,romanized: al-ġaţţās, lit. 'gannet ("the diver")') islocated in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from SanFrancisco, California, United States. The small island was developedwith facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, amilitary prison, and a federal prison from 1934 until 21 March 1963.The water currents around the island were high at all times, whichpresumably decreased the chance of an inmate escaping. Beginning inNovember 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by agroup of Native Americans from San Francisco, who were part of a waveof Native American activism across the U.S., with public proteststhrough the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became part of Golden GateNational Recreation Area and received designation as a NationalHistoric Landmark in 1986.

Today, the island's facilities aremanaged by the National Park Service as part of Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area; it is open to tours. Visitors can reach the islandin a little under 15 minutes by ferry ride from Pier 33, locatedbetween the San Francisco Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf, SanFrancisco. Hornblower Cruises and Events, operating under the nameAlcatraz Cruises, is the official ferry provider to and from theisland.

Alcatraz Island is home to theabandoned prison, the site of the oldest operating lighthouse on theWest Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, andnatural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony (mostlywestern gulls, cormorants, and egrets). According to a 1971documentary on the history of Alcatraz, the island measures 1,675feet (511 m) by 590 feet (180 m) and is 135 feet (41 m) at highestpoint during mean tide. The total area of the island is reported tobe 22 acres (8.9 ha).

Landmarks on the island include theMain Cellhouse, Dining Hall, Lighthouse, the ruins of the Warden'sHouse and Social Hall, Parade Grounds, Building 64, Water Tower, NewIndustries Building, Model Industries Building, and the RecreationYard.

History

The first European to document theisland was Spanish naval officer and explorer Juan Manuel de Ayaladuring Spanish rule of California, who charted San Francisco Bay in1775. He named one of the three islands "La Isla de losAlcatraces", which translates as "The Island of theGannets" but is commonly believed to translate as "TheIsland of the Pelicans (Spanish for Pelicans is Pelícanos)", from the archaic Spanish alcatraz ("pelican"). Overthe years, the Spanish version "Alcatraz" becamepopular and is now widely used. In August 1827, French CaptainAuguste Bernard Duhaut-Cilly wrote "... running pastAlcatraze's (Pelicans) Island ... covered with a countless number ofthese birds. A gun fired over the feathered legions caused them tofly up in a great cloud and with a noise like a hurricane."The California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) isnot known to nest on the island today. The Spanish built severalsmall buildings on the island and other minor structures.

Fort Alcatraz

The earliest recorded private owner ofthe island of Alcatraz is Julian Workman, to whom it was given byMexican governor Pio Pico in June 1846, with the understanding thatWorkman would build a lighthouse on it. Julian Workman is thebaptismal name of William Workman, co-owner of Rancho La Puente andpersonal friend of Pio Pico. Later in 1846, acting in his capacity asMilitary Governor of California, John C. Frémont, champion ofManifest Destiny and leader of the Bear Flag Republic, bought theisland for $5,000 in the name of the United States government fromFrancis Temple. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore ordered thatAlcatraz Island be set aside specifically as a United States militaryreservation, for military purposes based upon the U.S. acquisition ofCalifornia from Mexico following the Mexican–American War. Frémonthad expected a large compensation for his initiative in purchasingand securing Alcatraz Island for the U.S. government, but the U.S.government later invalidated the sale and paid Frémont nothing.Frémont and his heirs sued for compensation during protracted butunsuccessful legal battles that extended into the 1890s.