San Francisco - Alcatraz

Now... today is April 8th, the anniversary of Richie proposing marriage... and guess where he takes me?

Alcatraz

Guess I've been a bad wife.

We were a little leery on spending the $26/person for a ferry ride to visit Alcatraz, but it was worth every cent!

A welcomed greeting:

WARNING
Persons procuring or
concealing escape of
prisoners are subject
to prosecution and
imprisonment


UNITED STATE
PENITENTIARY
Alcatraz Island Area 12 acres
1 1/2 miles to Transport Dock
Only government boats permitted
Others must keep off 200 yards
No one allowed ashore
without a pass

I'm going to apologize in advance for so many photographs in this entry. The day and the setting were perfect - and I simply could not help myself. I was overwhelmed with the history of this island - and we spent hours here!


I approached Alcatraz like everyone else... having seen The Rock (Sean Connery) and Escape From Alcatraz (Clint Eastwood). Little did I know that Alcatraz had so many layers...

The Guardhouse (1857)
This is the oldest surviving structure on the island.

LAYER ONE:

First one being a military fort to protect San Francisco Bay and all of its gold from potential threats. Fort Point (east of bay), Lime Point (west of bay), and Alcatraz formed a perfect triangle to protect its waters.

The building to the left of this photograph was originally the military barracks. The existing basement was built between 1865 and 1867. It has 10-foot-thick brick walls.

This is the sight of the first operational lighthouse on the west coast of the US.
84-feet tall (concrete)
Built in 1909

There were plans to install over 100 cannons (I believe the final number was 111), but cannons became obsolete by the time the infrastructure was complete, so there was no use for cannons at Alcatraz.

The Parade Grounds (Now a protected nesting area for Seagulls.)

Read more about layer one here.


LAYER TWO:

There were military prisoners already on Alcatraz... who were instructed to remove the barracks, leaving the basement to build a permanent prison on.

The Army used the prison until it was transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice for use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

With the Depression and Prohabition... government wanted to open a maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary for serious offenders - "gang activity" as the video called it - and to show the public that the government was serious about stopping criminals.

Read more about layer two here.


LAYER THREE:

The prison closed in 1963 due to high operating costs and unsafe infrastructure.

I was completely oblivious to the Native American take-over in 1970. You can still see graffiti around the island.

For 18 months, numerous Indians from various tribes collected in hopes to build public support in creating a Native American Cultural Cneter and possibly a university. Really cool!

Notice the flag under the eagle is painted "FREE."

Apparently, numerous structures were blazed during this time including the Warden's House, Lighthouse Keeper's Home, and the Officer's Club. The park does not elaborate on the cause of fire, but many historians assume unruly protesters.

The Warden's House


Built in 1910 - The Alcatraz Post Exchange (PX), later used as the Officer's Club

Read more about layer three here.


LAYER FOUR:

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was developed in 1972, including Alcatraz Island.
Opened its gates in 1973 and now has over 1 million visitors annually. Impressive!

The Power Plant (1912) & Quartermaster Warehouse (1921)
The power plant is still being used today to provide fresh water to the island!

The average prison population was 260, maximum was 302.
Alcatraz never reached it's maximum capacity of 336 prisoners.

And now for the best part of Alcatraz... The Prison Rules

Below are a few I found most interesting:

5. PRIVILEGES. You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else that you get is a privilege. You earn your privileges by conducting yourself properly. "Good Standing" is a term applied to inmates who have a good conduct record and a good work record and who are not undergoing disciplinary restrictions.


11. TRANSFER TO OTHER FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS will not be recommended unless you can show a better than average good conduct record for several years at this Institution.

20. RECREATION. As a general rule, you will work eight hours a day, five days a week, with Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays devoted to recreation. Movies are shown twice each month. Exercise Yard activities include baseball, handball and various table games. Newly arrived inmates are kept in Quarantine Status for 30 days and are not allowed recreation during that period.

Interesting Fact: Alcatraz did not have a sewer system... Yum!

23. YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS OR LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS if made by you to the proper Officials, will receive careful consideration. However, if you make groundless complaints for the purpose of creating dis-satisfaction and/or stirring up trouble; or if you agitate' or rib' yourself or others into trouble, you will be subject to disciplinary action.

32. CLOTHING: The standard inmate uniform for all normal activities inside the cellhouse consists of: blue chambray shirt, Blue & White (B&W) trousers, web waist belt and issue shoes. This uniform is worn at visits, interviews, meals, movies, etc. Your shirt will be buttoned except for the top collar button. The sleeves will be rolled down and buttoned. Your belt will be worn with your register number in plain view, at the center of your back.
You are required to wear this standard uniform to and from outside work or the Recreation Yard, but you may add to it your cap, jacket, coat or raincoat. You may wear tennis shoes to the Recreation Yard only.
You will wear your robe and slippers or shoes when going to and from bath.
You are not allowed to change or alter any of your issue clothing. Keep your clothing neat, clean and in good repair at all times.

Interesting Fact:
There are 4 cell blocks.
A block was not used to hold prisoners, but for storage.
B & C blocks held the "general population"
while D block was "isolation"

33. DINING ROOM RULES: Meals are served three times a day in the dining room. Do not exceed the ration. Do not waste food. Do not carry food from the dining room.
Wear standard uniform. (See Section #32).
Conduct yourself in a quiet, orderly manner. You may converse in normal tones with persons near you. Boisterous conduct will not be tolerated in the dining room.
Observe the ration posted on the menu board and take all that you wish to eat within the allotted amounts, but you must eat all that you take.
You may go to the coffee urn on your side of the dining room only when no other inmate is there. Do not go to the urn for the purpose of visiting with others.
Do not pass or exchange food, cigarettes, notes or any other items anywhere in the dining room.
You will be given ample time to eat but no loitering will be permitted.
Shortages of silverware at the table must be reported to the Officer immediately before beginning to eat.
After you have finished eating, place your silverware in the right hand compartment of your tray. Empty bread, cake or pie trays and pitchers will be passed to the end of the table toward the center of the Dining Room. Inmates seated at that end of the table will arrange them for inspection by the officer assigned to the table.
When all inmates on a table have finished eating, the inspecting Officer will give the signal to rise and leave the dining room. Proceed in single file directly to your cell. Enter your cell without delay. Do not loiter or visit on the galleries. Do not enter another inmate's cell at any time. Cell door will be locked as soon as you enter your cell.


43. USE OF TYPEWRITERS: You are permitted to work on your own case or to hire a lawyer to represent you. A typewriter is available if you are able to type. Apply to the Associate Warden for permission. You are not permitted to work on another inmate's case or to give another inmate legal advice or instructions. After you obtain permission to use the typewriter, you will be notified when a machine is available. You will bring all materials to "A" Block where they will be inspected. All typing material, books, papers, etc., will remain in "A" Block until the typing has been completed. All papers will be signed and labeled. One copy of all papers typed shall be made for the Institution records. After the Associate Warden has inspected the papers, your copy will be returned to you.

53. GENERAL RULE: Though not mentioned in these rules, any disorder, act or neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline, and any conduct which disturbs the orderly routine of the institution shall be taken cognizance of by the Warden or his representative, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and punished at the discretion of the Warden or other lawful authority.

I must admit - it was quite eerie being on the island.

I was most impressed with the gardens.

And the park service's attempt to restore and preserve the structures of Alcatraz, but I wish they shared more details on what they are doing and how they are doing it.


I'd do this tour again in a heartbeat - next time on the evening tour.