Member-only story
Alcatraz Prison- History
The History of the island.
The history of Alcatraz Prison is actually really interesting. I have always been interested in this prison, but when I deep dived into it, I just couldn’t get enough. I would LOVE to be able to go do a tour of this prison. Plus, what turned into what was supposed to be an article turned out to be 3 parts so far. Part 1 & 2 are about inmate life. Now let’s get into the history.
The name Alcatraz is derived from the Spanish name “Alcatraces”. It was named by Juan Manuel de Ayala in the year 1775, when he found the island. Now, over time Alcatraces Anglicized to Alcatraz. The exact meaning of the word is still debated. Usually when defined it means “pelican” or “strange bird”.
In 1850, presidential order had set aside the island for possible use of a United States military reservation. The California Gold Rush resulted in a boom in growth in San Francisco Bay. This is what led the U.S. Army to build a citadel or a fortress at the top of the island in the early 1850s. The army made plans to install more than 100 cannons on the island. This made Alcatraz the most heavily fortified military site on the West Coast. Which is pretty awesome. Alcatraz, Lime Point, and Fort Point formed a triangle of defense. This protected the entrance to the Bay. Which was a smart way to think. The first operational lighthouse on…
