Excerpt
Introduction
Alcatraz Island is just a little over a mile from San Francisco, but in some ways, it feels worlds away. It’s not very big—about 22 acres, which is smaller than most theme parks—but it’s packed with history. Long before it became famous as a prison, Alcatraz had other roles. It’s been a military base, a lighthouse station, and even a place of protest. Today, it’s a National Park that people visit from all over the world.
What makes Alcatraz so fascinating? Maybe it’s the stories of prisoners trying to escape its cold, shark-infested waters. Maybe it’s the abandoned buildings that seem frozen in time, like something out of a ghost story. Or maybe it’s the sheer power of the place—a tiny island that once controlled so much of San Francisco Bay. Whatever it is, there’s something about Alcatraz that makes people want to know more.
Alcatraz wasn’t always called “The Rock.” That nickname came much later, during its time as a prison. The name “Alcatraz” comes from Spanish explorers who sailed into the bay in the late 1700s. They called the island “La Isla de los Alcatraces,” which means “The Island of the Pelicans,” because of all the seabirds that lived there. If you visit today, you’ll still see plenty of pelicans—and gulls, and cormorants—perched on the cliffs and rocks.
The island’s history stretches back even further, though, to a time long before European explorers arrived. Native American tribes in the region, including the Ohlone people, had their own stories about Alcatraz. Some believed it was a place of isolation, where members of their tribe would go to reflect or seek guidance. Others thought of it as a place of exile. Standing on the rocky shores, surrounded by endless water, it’s easy to imagine how the island could feel both peaceful and lonely at the same time.
Fast forward to the 1850s, and Alcatraz became something entirely new: a military base. At the time, California had just become part of the United States, and San Francisco was growing into a bustling port city thanks to the Gold Rush. The U.S. government decided Alcatraz was the perfect spot to defend the bay from enemy ships. Soldiers built massive walls, cannons, and barracks, turning the island into a fortress. It wasn’t the friendliest place, but it was important. If you controlled Alcatraz, you controlled the gateway to San Francisco.
While all of this was happening, Alcatraz also became home to something special: the first lighthouse on the west coast of the United States. Imagine being a sailor in the 1850s, steering your ship through the foggy waters of San Francisco Bay. That lighthouse would have been a lifesaver, guiding you away from dangerous rocks and showing you the path to safety. Even today, the lighthouse still stands, though it’s been updated with modern technology.
By the early 1900s, Alcatraz was no longer just a military base. It had also become a prison. At first, it was a military prison, where soldiers who broke the rules were sent. Later, in 1934, it was turned into a federal penitentiary, a place for some of the country’s most dangerous criminals. This is the part of Alcatraz’s story that most people know: the escape attempts, the famous prisoners, the eerie cells. It’s easy to picture guards patrolling the walkways and prisoners staring out at the distant city, dreaming of freedom.
Life on Alcatraz was tough. The prison was designed to be escape-proof, with high walls, steel bars, and freezing waters all around. But that didn’t stop some prisoners from trying. Over the years, there were 14 escape attempts involving 36 men. Most were caught or drowned, but a few disappeared, leaving people to wonder: Did they make it? Did they survive the icy waters of the bay? The mystery adds to the island’s legend.
After the prison closed in 1963, Alcatraz took on a new role as a symbol of resistance. In 1969, a group of Native American activists occupied the island to draw attention to the struggles of Indigenous peoples in the United States. They stayed for over a year, transforming Alcatraz into a place of hope and activism. Their protest helped spark a movement that continues to inspire people today.
Alcatraz Island is just a little over a mile from San Francisco, but in some ways, it feels worlds away. It’s not very big—about 22 acres, which is smaller than most theme parks—but it’s packed with history. Long before it became famous as a prison, Alcatraz had other roles. It’s been a military base, a lighthouse station, and even a place of protest. Today, it’s a National Park that people visit from all over the world.
What makes Alcatraz so fascinating? Maybe it’s the stories of prisoners trying to escape its cold, shark-infested waters. Maybe it’s the abandoned buildings that seem frozen in time, like something out of a ghost story. Or maybe it’s the sheer power of the place—a tiny island that once controlled so much of San Francisco Bay. Whatever it is, there’s something about Alcatraz that makes people want to know more.
Alcatraz wasn’t always called “The Rock.” That nickname came much later, during its time as a prison. The name “Alcatraz” comes from Spanish explorers who sailed into the bay in the late 1700s. They called the island “La Isla de los Alcatraces,” which means “The Island of the Pelicans,” because of all the seabirds that lived there. If you visit today, you’ll still see plenty of pelicans—and gulls, and cormorants—perched on the cliffs and rocks.
The island’s history stretches back even further, though, to a time long before European explorers arrived. Native American tribes in the region, including the Ohlone people, had their own stories about Alcatraz. Some believed it was a place of isolation, where members of their tribe would go to reflect or seek guidance. Others thought of it as a place of exile. Standing on the rocky shores, surrounded by endless water, it’s easy to imagine how the island could feel both peaceful and lonely at the same time.
Fast forward to the 1850s, and Alcatraz became something entirely new: a military base. At the time, California had just become part of the United States, and San Francisco was growing into a bustling port city thanks to the Gold Rush. The U.S. government decided Alcatraz was the perfect spot to defend the bay from enemy ships. Soldiers built massive walls, cannons, and barracks, turning the island into a fortress. It wasn’t the friendliest place, but it was important. If you controlled Alcatraz, you controlled the gateway to San Francisco.
While all of this was happening, Alcatraz also became home to something special: the first lighthouse on the west coast of the United States. Imagine being a sailor in the 1850s, steering your ship through the foggy waters of San Francisco Bay. That lighthouse would have been a lifesaver, guiding you away from dangerous rocks and showing you the path to safety. Even today, the lighthouse still stands, though it’s been updated with modern technology.
By the early 1900s, Alcatraz was no longer just a military base. It had also become a prison. At first, it was a military prison, where soldiers who broke the rules were sent. Later, in 1934, it was turned into a federal penitentiary, a place for some of the country’s most dangerous criminals. This is the part of Alcatraz’s story that most people know: the escape attempts, the famous prisoners, the eerie cells. It’s easy to picture guards patrolling the walkways and prisoners staring out at the distant city, dreaming of freedom.
Life on Alcatraz was tough. The prison was designed to be escape-proof, with high walls, steel bars, and freezing waters all around. But that didn’t stop some prisoners from trying. Over the years, there were 14 escape attempts involving 36 men. Most were caught or drowned, but a few disappeared, leaving people to wonder: Did they make it? Did they survive the icy waters of the bay? The mystery adds to the island’s legend.
After the prison closed in 1963, Alcatraz took on a new role as a symbol of resistance. In 1969, a group of Native American activists occupied the island to draw attention to the struggles of Indigenous peoples in the United States. They stayed for over a year, transforming Alcatraz into a place of hope and activism. Their protest helped spark a movement that continues to inspire people today.