Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, CA - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

According to the WPA Guide to California: "ALCATRAZ ISLAND, in the bay between San Francisco and Sausalito, is one of the world's most feared and widely publicized penal institutions, the Federal prison for incorrigibles (visitor's by warden's permission only). Alcatraz, known colloquialy as 'The Rock', a 12-acre island, was fortified by the Spanish prior to American occupation. From 1859 it was used as a military prison and a United States Army disciplinary barracks; during and after the World War many conscientious objectors were removed here from Fort Leavenworth. Alcatraz was made a federal penitentiary in 1933, to house unruly prisoners from other federal institutions. The rigid discipline, the elaborate barriers to prevent escape, including the "electrical eye" to detect the presence of metal on a prisoner, and the names of its notorious inmates have combined to make thousandsof newspaper headlines. Swift currents flowing around 'The Rock' make escape by water practically impossible. Two prisoners made the attempt in 1938, but their ultimate success or failure is unknown."

Today the Island is a tourist attraction through the National Park Service, which provides audio tours during the day and ranger guided tours of the prison at night. Visitors must take boats that depart from Pier 33 in the San Francisco Bay.

Book: California Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 296, 297 Year Originally Published: 1939

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