Alcatraz
Alcatraz
Never in his wildest dreams could Al Capone have imagined the fortress that kept him prisoner for so many years would become a tourist attraction. Today it is complete with shopping malls, restaurants and guided tours. In San Francisco Bay, historic Fisherman’s Wharf hosts fishing vessels, excursion boats and ferries taking visitors to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge and “The Rock.“
At first, the Miwok Indians called Alcatraz home, then it became a lighthouse (and still is), a military fortification, a military prison and then a federal prison by virtue of the unlikelihood that anyone could ever escape. After three managed to do just that, a feat Alcatraz still denies, the rock was turned into the landmark it is today.
San Francisco was first explored by Juan Manuel who charted the bay and named the island Alcatraces — the island of the Pelicans. It is home still to a large seabird colony. The island has an extensive and fascinating history which the tour guides are happy to relate to visitors. It’s fame includes Civil War prisoners, shell-proof tunnels and incomplete parade grounds. During World War I the prison even held conscientious objectors.
In 29 years, 36 prisoners attempted to escape. Twenty-three were caught, the rest were shot or drown. But it wasn’t until the last three managed to carve a hole in the aging wall that the government deemed the prison no longer escape proof. Famous inmates included the “Birdman of Alcatraz,’ “Machine Gun Kelly,’ and of course, Al Capone.
There is much more to see in San Francisco including the famous cable cars, the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier Museum and the Golden Gate Park. Not far away, visit California wine country, Big Sur and Yosemite National Park.
by Marti Talbott
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Recommended Reading
Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years
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