History of Alcatraz Prison

Pre-European History

Native indigenous population in the Bay Area prior to the arrival of the Spanish Europeans consisted of two different tribal groups, the Miwoks and the Ohlones. Not much is known about their use of the island but based on oral information, the island was used for camping, egging, and food gathering. The island was not habitable, but according to Miwok legend, was possessed by evil spirits, and banished tribal members were exiled here. Otherwise, the island was generally avoided.

Isla de los Alcatraces

In 1775 the Spanish ship, San Carlos captained by Juan Manuel de Ayala passed through the Golden Gate as the first Europeans to explore and chart the Bay Area. When they encountered the Rock they named it, Isla de las Alcatraces because of the large pelican population covering the island. Over time the name for the island was shortened to Alcatraz. The island was more hospitable to pelicans than humans and during the period that the Spanish held sway and dominion over California, they did not make use of the island.

Early History of Alcatraz under the United States

The Treaty of Hidalgo in the year of 1848 marked the end of the Mexican-American War and ceded possession of the territory to the United States. In 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in the Sierra foothills marking the start of the Gold Rush and an influx of fortune seekers. Most arrived by ship coming around the horn and with the many ships anchoring in the bay off of San Francisco. Strategically, the U.S. military decided Alcatraz would be an excellent location for a fortress overseeing the bay. Geologic surveys were undertaken, construction plans began, and the Citadel was established in 1850 with the fortress manned with long range cannons and guns capable of taking out hostile ships entering the bay. Later a lighthouse was erected on the island as well to guide the many ships away from the hazardous rock island on those dark and foggy nights. But Alcatraz's role as a fearsome fortress protecting the strategic bay waters was short-lived and in a few decades it's role steadily diminished. Finally, in 1909 the Citadel was torn down and Alcatraz's defensive military role ceased.

History of Alcatraz Prison

Ahh, but there was another fate destined for this rocky isle in the middle of bay, its previous history being just an inconsequential prelude. Alcatraz's grim reputation and mystique began in 1861 with the onset of the U.S. Civil War. Military minds conceived of Alcatraz as an ideal location for Confederate prisoners. From that original concept Alcatraz became a prison, first as a military prison and eventually as a Federal Penitentiary. The following lists key events in Alcatraz's life as a destination of confinement and this country's version of Devil's Island.

• Starting in 1861, Confederate prisoners and later army-convicts were assigned to the Citadel for detention. The majority of army prisoners were there for short-term incarceration for desertion and lesser crimes although some were confined for longer periods and for more serious offenses.

• Post-1906 San Francisco Earthquake, many civilian prisoners from the city's jails were transferred to Alcatraz for temporary detention during rebuilding.

• In 1909, the Citadel was torn down and the site was converted to a new military prison facility, ironically built by its own prisoners. The new prison was designated as the Pacific Branch, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks for the U.S. Army. Military prisoners were assigned here for disciplining and retraining.

• Over the next two decades, The Rock's reputation as a harsh prison with tough conditions builds and due to public pressure, the military closes down the military prison in 1933.

• On October 12, 1933, the U.S. Department of Justice takes possession of Alcatraz with the intention to turn it into a maximum security prison. During the Prohibition years (1920 to 1933), crime syndicates and increasing violent crime flourished. Alcatraz with its isolation, treacherous currents, and chilly waters made it ideal to house these worst of the worst criminals. It was to be inescapable.

• On July 1, 1934, U.S. Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz opened. Wardens from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) were polled and selected their most incorrigible prisoners who were transferred to The Rock.

• The first warden of the prison was James A. Johnston. He set the modus operandi for the prison by proclaiming the prison was not for rehabilitation, but for punishment. This philosophy is evident in the Alcatraz Rules and Regulations. Rule Number 5 states, "You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else is privilege." Few privileges were granted with no special treatment for any individual awarded.

• Famous Inmates

Alcatraz's history is full of many toughened and famous criminals and murderers of their time. The list includes: Al "Scarface" Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Doc Barker (eldest son of Ma Barker), Robert "The Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud, Floyd Hamilton (Bonnie and Clyde gang), and Alvin "the Creepy" Karpis. Apparently it helped to have a nickname to gain admittance to the Alcatraz club.

• Escapes

The island prison was famed for being inescapable. That doesn't mean escape was never attempted. There were 14 attempts that resulted with twenty-three caught, six shot and killed, and two drowned. There were a total of 34 men who made escape attempts with two trying twice. Whether anyone actually escaped is a matter of conjecture and rumor. Five are listed as missing and presumed drowned. This short list includes the real characters from Clint Eastwood's Escape from Alcatraz movie, Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Aglin.

• Alcatraz Closes

On March 21, 1963 Alcatraz closed. The decision by the BOP was made because Alcatraz was too expensive to operate relative to other institutions in their U.S. penal system. As an example, in 1959 it was calculated the daily per capita cost at Alcatraz was $10.10 versus $3.00 per capita in Atlanta's prison. This higher operating cost was due to the island's isolation. Everything -— water, food, clothing, equipment, and supplies -- had to be brought by boat, making it too difficult to efficiently manage the prison. Also, the marine climate took its toll on the facilities that needed constant maintenance and renovation. Alcatraz's era as a prison came to an quiet close.

Alcatraz's Post-Prison History

Upon the prison closure, Alcatraz was turned over to the General Services Administration for management. It was offered to several government agencies but no one was interested in the land or eroding facilities. Alcatraz was just another white elephant in the Federal Government's hands. In early 1969, Interior Secretary Warren Hickel placed Alcatraz under the National Parks jurisdiction. However, that's not quite the end of the history of Alcatraz Prison.

• Native Americans and Alcatraz

Starting in November of 1969, Alcatraz was held and occupied by a Native American activist group called the United Indians of All Tribes. They claimed it as Native American territory based upon the 1868 Fort of Laramie Treaty between the U.S. and the Sioux nation. On November 9, 1970 a small group of Native Americans led by Mohawk, Richard Oakes, landed on Alcatraz to take over but left uneventfully the next morning at Federal Marshal's requests. Undeterred, they returned on November 20th, joined by another 80-90 Native Americans. The occupiers stubbornly resisted persuasive efforts to leave, but eventually the peaceful siege of the island ended. On June 11, 1971 after many of the Native Americans had already left, Federal Marshalls raided the island and arrested the remaining 11 Native American occupiers, and the 19-month occupation ended.

• Alcatraz and Tourism

On most San Francisco tourists' list of things to see when visiting is an excursion to Alcatraz. In 1972, Congress created a new division of the U.S. Park Services, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Alcatraz was declared part of the GGNRA and in the following year, "The Rock" was opened to the public. Since that point, Alcatraz Island, with its unique nefarious prison history, has drawn over one million visitors a year. Tourists arrive by boat and can follow guided tours or freelance throughout the island. When on the island one can sit in a small cell on "D" block and just imagine the numbing loneliness and frustration of living imprisoned so close, but yet so far, from San Francisco outside the prison walls and just across the water. Luckily, all tourists are paroled by the end of the day and they can return to the City by the Bay with their slate clean and their debt paid to society, or at least to the NPS. For tour information, go to Alcatraz Cruises And remember, stay out of trouble.

Related Links

• Alcatraz Island at Golden Gate Recreational Area
• Alcatraz Cruises
• National Park Service—Alcatraz Island
• Escapes from Alcatraz
• Alcatraz Tour
• Alcatraz Island