I haven't been to Alcatraz in about 45 years. I think I went there for a field trip in fourth grade. Even though it sits there in the Bay, I always thought it was the super tourist thing to do. Anyway, I decided to go out there.
Alcatraz has an amazing history. It was developed in the mid-19 century as a lighthouse, military fort and a military prison before becoming a federal prison in 1934. Alcatraz was the first super max prison and it held the worst of the worst in the Federal Prison system. Names like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and Bumpy Johnson all spent time there.
The prison closed in 1963 and Native Americans occupied it for 19 months starting in November 1969. It became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972:
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| The Admin Building |
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| The Morgue |
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| The Chapel |
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| The Warden's House |
For a prison, The Rock is rather small. It only had 336 cells in B and C Block (A Block was not used) and 42 cells in the segregation unit. You can feel and hear the ghosts on the inside of the prison:
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| A regular cell |
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| A cell in D Block or the Segregation |
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| The Yard |
And they don't sugar coat the famous Escape in 1962 by the Anglin Bothers and Frank Morris:
The dummies they used(above) and the how they got out of their cells (below):
After the prison closed Native Americans occupied the island for 19 months beginning in November 1969 to protest federal policies towards Native Americans:
The Rock is an interesting place to visit with much history and I am glad that I did it finally.
What an amazing history. Thanks for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteWe were just in San Francisco but we didn't have much time here and had to pass on seeing Alcatraz. Thank you for this post. I feel like I almost went now!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever heard of this place in video footage, I'd love to visit it in reality though.
ReplyDeleteThis is a place I've explored. It was a fabulous day. Such a rich history this island has.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday, Patrick. ☺
When my son's family first moved out there, they visited. When I went to visit them few years back, sadly, I chose not to go and have regretted it since. Such stories over the years and movies about the place.
ReplyDeleteA place full off history. But it's also a place full of bad energies.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your images in this post. You go in so interesting places!
Happy WW and a fine week!
Great photos of Alcatraz. I especially like the tower, the ruined warden's house, and the details from the walls. I haven't been back there in a long time, either (though more recent than 45 years ;) ).
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week!
Great photos and history :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a celllesstastic week 👍
Thanks for the memories! We took or sone there about 8 years ago, it is a place with a lot of history, and photo opps!
ReplyDeleteMitch
Such an interesting place from ghost stories to escapes. Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 90. Shared.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting place that I've only seen in movies. Thank you for sharing The Rock with us at #weekendcoffeeshare.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit someday. Thank you for the tour!
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