Alcatraz Island (2014) by FOR-SITE FoundationFOR-SITE Foundation
Lying just a few miles off the shores of San Francisco is Alcatraz Island. This inhospitable rock was once the home of one of the United States' most notorious prisons - supposedly inescapable - but here are a few things you may not know about Alcatraz Island…
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The island takes its name from the Spanish, La Isla de los Alcatraces, an archaic phrase meaning 'The Island of the Pelicans'. This was actually the original name of Yerba Buena Island, but over time it came to be applied to the little rock today known as Alcatraz.
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Occupying a strategic position in San Francisco Bay, the importance of the uninhabited island was recognised by the Federal government. In 1853, a fortified military base was established on the island. During the Civil War, it served as an arsenal and prisoner of war camp.
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Alcatraz Island was also the location of the first lighthouse to be constructed on the Western coastline of the United States - completed in 1854. This was replaced in 1909 by the concrete tower that stands today - a prominent landmark when viewed from the mainland.
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Since the Civil War, Alcatraz Island had been used as a makeshift prison. In 1933, it was acquired by the Department of Justice and turned into a high-security federal prison to house violent and high-priority criminals. It's reputation earned it a nickname; Hellcatraz.
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The prison, with its small, windowless cells and thick concrete walls, surrounded by rough, frigid water, was thought to be inescapable - in fact, many tried and many failed. In 29 years of operation, 36 prisoners made 14 attempts, none of which were known to be successful.
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Since 1981, athletes have competed in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon - an event inspired by one infamous escape attempt. Competitors have to swim, run, and cycle a course that, in theory, would allow them to escape the island. Surprisingly, many manage to complete the event!
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On March 8, 1964, a year after the prison was closed, a group of Native American activists led by Belva Cottier occupied the island, in protest against federal policies to end Native American traditions, and assimilate them into mainstream society.
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The activists, who claimed the island under the Treaty of Fort Laramie, demanded that the island be given to Native Americans, and turned into an educational and cultural centre. Their protest lasted nearly two years, though only their graffiti remains.
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In 1972, Alcatraz Island was sold to the US National Parks Service. Today, the island is home only to various flora and fauna, some native, some introduced by the island's former inhabitants. It's also a tourist destination, visited by an estimated 1.7 million people per year.
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