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History of Alcatraz in San Francisco

Alcatraz is a small island located in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. It covers an area of ​​0.0763 square kilometers. It is surrounded by cliffs and deep water, and it is not easy to communicate with foreigners. Therefore, it was selected by the US government as a prison site. A well-known felon, abolished in 1963, is now a famous tourist attraction on the San Francisco Bay along with the Golden Gate Bridge.

Derived from Shimana

Alcatraz usually refers to a small island in the San Francisco Bay, California, United States, less than 2 miles from San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf. The English name Alcatraz Island, which means Pelican Island, comes from the Spanish La Islade Los Alcatraces. Many pelicans have lived on the island since ancient times. In fact, it is a huge reef with a radius of 22 acres, commonly known as The Rock.

The name “Alcatraz” comes from a prisoner who was imprisoned here. Philip Grosser was found guilty of refusing military service in World War I. He compiled his experience in prison into a book, named “Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island” (Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island), which exposed the horror and darkness of the prison at that time to the public, so that this Pelican Island was awarded the title of “Devil’s Island”. A resounding name.

In addition, French Guiana in South America has a “real” Devil’s Island (Devil’s Island), which, coincidentally, once set up a prison.

“Alcatraz” means “pelican” in Spanish, because the island was originally a habitat for pelicans and gathered a large number of pelicans, hence the name. The commonly used Chinese translation “Alcatraz” comes from the book “Uncle Sam’s Alcatraz”, which is very different from the original “Alcatraz”, so it is also transliterated as “Akatris Island”, “Acatraz Island”, “Alcatraz Island”, “Alcatraz Island”, etc.

Island history –

Indian period

In the San Francisco Bay area where Alcatraz is located, the earliest indigenous peoples were Indian tribes (the Miwok and the Ohlone). In 1769 the number exceeded 1,000.

Spanish colonial period

(1769 – The area became a Spanish colony in 1769. On August 5, 1775 the Spanish explorer Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala sailed to San Francisco Bay and spent weeks mapping the port. He named a rocky and desolate island “La Isla de Los Alcatraces” (Pelican Island). Exactly which island he named was still debated by historians in 2013, but by 2013 it was the 22-acre reef that had that name.

Mexican Territory Period

In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spanish rule and became Mexican territory.

US territory

In the Mexican-American War that broke out in 1846, the United States occupied this place, and after the war it was included in the United States along with California.

During the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, several San Francisco Bay islands, including Alcatraz, were nationally owned by the President of the United States in the name of “public interest.” In 1854, the first lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States was erected on Alcatraz to guide ships into San Francisco Bay. As of 2013, there are still ruins on the island.

Military prison period

Because of its strategic position guarding the San Francisco Bay, the U.S. military built a military installation on the island in 1859, and it was the largest fortress west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Subsequently, the function of the military fortress was gradually weakened, and the function of the prison was gradually enhanced. Alcatraz became a military prison in 1907, with prisoners building most of the buildings. The army withdrew from Alcatraz in 1933.

Federal prison time

Alcatraz became a federal prison in 1934, housing notorious criminals, escape experts, gang leaders and troublemakers, and soon became a famous prison in American history. Nearly 100 notorious felons have been held there for nearly 30 years.

The reason they were sent here for imprisonment is because the island is surrounded by icy turbulent waves and ferocious bloodthirsty sharks. It is almost impossible to escape from the prison, and through the bars of the prison, you can see the beautiful and vibrant San Francisco. To them is tantamount to another cruel punishment. The prisoners who have been held here include the Chicago “Godfather” Al Capone, the talented murderer “Birdman” Stroud (Robert Stroud), and the cold-blooded “machine gun” killer Kelly (George Kelly) et al.

During the 30 years from its opening to its closure, the Alcatraz Federal Prison has only been used to hold serious prisoners. The 336 cells on the island have never been filled with an average of 260 prisoners, and no prisoners have ever been formally executed. The toughest inmates in the country are sent here until they are deemed eligible for transfer to lower-security prisons. The average prison time here is five years.

Indian stronghold period

In 1963, the federal government abandoned the island due to the high cost of operating the prison, but Alcatraz’s reputation has spread widely. It was uninhabited for a while.

Between 1969 and 1971, it was occupied by the Indians as a political stronghold for the development of a national consciousness movement, and was later expelled.

Tourist attraction period

Alcatraz was included in Golden Gate National Park in 1971.