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Mar 31, 2024 · Alcatraz Island, also known as ‘The Rock,’ a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, off the coast of California, in the United States. From 1934 to 1963, a facility on the island served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous civilian prisoners. Learn more about the history of Alcatraz Island here.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Introduction. Alcatraz is an island in San Francisco Bay, in California. It occupies an area of 22 acres (9 hectares) and is about 1.5 miles (2 kilometers) offshore from San Francisco. It is also called The Rock. Exploration. The island was most likely first explored by Juan Manuel de Ayala of Spain in 1775.
Alcatraz Island was a seabird habitat when it was explored in 1775 by Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala of Spain, who named it Isla de los Alcatraces (“Isle of the Pelicans”). Sold in 1849 to the U.S. government, Alcatraz became the site of the first lighthouse on the coast of California in 1854.
Aug 30, 2023 · Alcatraz has a many-layered history: Civil War fortress, military prison, federal prison, bird sanctuary, first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement: These are just a few of the fascinating stories of the Rock.
- History of Alcatraz
- Alcatraz Today
- Getting to Alcatraz
Initially discovered by a Spanish explorer in 1775 (its name literally meant Isle of the Penguins originally), Alcatraz Island was first used by the US military in 1853, when it established a base there, transforming it into Fortress Alcatraz. This heavily fortified structure was completed in 1859. In the course of the American Civil War, the defen...
Ferries depart regularly from Pier 33: there are multiple tour options available. Bring your own earphones for the audio tour, and expect a visit to last at least hours (including the ferry to and from the mainland). It’s an eerie yet fascinating journey into the workings of this famous site, and exploring Alcatraz Island’s varied and often dark hi...
Alcatraz Island is accessible by ferry only: these depart regularly from Pier 33, on the Embarcadero. The tram stops a few hundred metre away (The Embarcadero & Greenwich St) and bus routes 27, 54 and 72 also stop very close by. There’s private parking close by – expect to pay handsomely for the privilege.
- Sarah Roller
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Mar 28, 2014 · Hidden History Found Beneath Alcatraz. UNITED STATES. Scientists say there’s much more to “the Rock” than crime and punishment, and they have come to Alcatraz to investigate the hidden history that lies beneath the prison walls. (BBC)
Oct 21, 2020 · From December 1969 to June 1971, Native activists occupied Alcatraz Island based on their interpretation of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, which they believed granted them the right to reclaim any ...
