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Alcatraz Island THE RUGGED HISTORY THE ISLAND TODAY AND TOMORROW CALIFORNIA Twenty-seven pale, quiet men—wearing fresh For the first time since the 12-plus acre island prison blues, pea-coats, handcuffs, leg-irons and was ceded to the United States, daily public waist chains—were released from their cells tours are available. The guided tour is approxi­ and herded into buses which slowly descended mately 2'/2 hours from dock to dock. The tour the narrow switchback road to the wooden includes early fortification and military history, wharf on the steep east side of the Island. a walk up the main switchback road into the The prisoners were transferred to the main cell block and solitary cells, the recrea­ Warden Blackwell and the boat headed for tion yard and then back to the boat along a the Alcatraz dock at Fort Mason a mile verdant path with excellent views of the sur­ away on the San Francisco waterfront. The rounding bay. time—10:50 a.m. The date—Thursday, March 21, 1963. With just a minimum of cleanup and restora­ tion over the route, tours will be conducted for There were no ceremonies, there were no approximately the next 5 years. By evaluating speeches, there were no tears. The comments public reaction during this time, the National of the hard-case inmates leaving for disburse­ Park Service will be in a better position to ment to other Federal prisons were something create a long-range plan for this island, which less than nostalgic. "The place is hell," said offers one of the most magnificent views of the a bank robber as he boarded the prison boat. city, the Golden Gate and its headlands. And the last of the prisoners to step off The Rock delivered the final, bitter epitaph, "Alcatraz was never no good to nobody." RESERVATIONS There is a reasonable charge for transporta­ Thus ended nearly 100 years of Alcatraz tion to the island. Boat reservations are recom­ notoriety as a place of military and civil mended and may be obtained by calling (415) confinement—the grimmest symbol in North 398-1141 or writing Harbor Tours, Inc., Pier 41, America of the hand of justice. San Francisco, California 94133. The fog-shrouded institution, often pictured as the "Devil's Island" of the Western Hemis­ phere, had a capacity of 400 prisoners, SAFETY ADMINISTRATION normally two-thirds filled. It housed such Alcatraz Island is administered by the National incorrigibles as Al Capone, Machine Gun To fully enjoy your visit to Alcatraz here are a Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Kelly, mail robbers Albert Bates, Gene few recommendations to insure your safety The Superintendent of Golden Gate National Colson and Limpy Clever, and the last of and comfort: Recreation Area, whose address is Fort Mason, the great train robbers, Roy Gardner. 1. Half of the tour is outdoors so generally San Francisco, California 94123, is in dress for cool and windy weather. immediate charge. Alcatraz Island was first sighted and claimed by the Spanish nearly 200 years ago. Its 2. Comfortable walking shoes are needed for Spanish name, "La Isla de los Alcatraces" the mile-long tour. (Avoid high heels.) As the Nation's principal conservation agency, (the Island of the Pelicans), was originally the Department of the Interior has basic respon­ 3. The tour route involves some steep grades intended for another island in San Francisco sibilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, and stairs, so please consider your physical Bay, but by a later mapmaker's error, the park, and recreational resources. Indian and condition before visiting the island. name was shifted to this island. Territorial affairs are other major concerns of 4. You must stay with your tour guide — the America's "Department of Natural Resources." areas outside the tour route can be dangerous. The Department works to assure the wisest Initially, it was used for the first lighthouse choice in managing all our resources so each on the Pacific Coast and as a fortification. will make its full contribution to a better Subsequently, it became a military prison United States—now and in the future. and was used to hold Civil War and Indian prisoners, pacifists and World War I prisoners. In 1938, jurisdiction over the island was transferred to the Department of Justice which changed it to a maximum security civil penitentiary for the hardcore gangsters and other criminals of the time. In this use, its notoriety as "The Rock" outpaced its U.S. Department of the Interior tenure, which lasted less than 30 years. National Park Service •fr GPO 693-236 BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF ALCATRAZ ISLAND 1769 First sighting of San Francisco Bay by the Spanish Navy. 1775 First Spanish entrance into San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz Island sighted and named "Isla de los Alcatraces" (Island of the Pelicans) by Don Juan Manuel de Ayala, Lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Navy. Apparently, the Spanish title claim stemmed from this exploration. 1775-1840 During this period there are no local records Alcatraz ca. 1905. Army citadel at top of island. Original lighthouse shown was first on West Coast (1854). of any occupation or use by the Spanish. of confinement for military prisoners with Alcatraz Island is reported to the General 1846 long sentences. Apparently the use of Alcatraz Services Administration as excess property. Julian Workman petitions to Pio Pico, last as a place of confinement dates unofficially Mexican Governor of California, for a grant of to 1859. It was used to hold Civil War pri­ 1964 title to Alcatraz Island (apparently to settle soners, and, between 1870 to 1890, to detain Formation of President's Commission on the a debt). Indian prisoners. During and after World War Disposition of Alcatraz Island. I, prisoners of war were confined there. Governor Pico grants Alcatraz to Workman Commission recommends to Congress that upon the condition that Workman erect a 1906 Alcatraz Island be used to commemorate the lighthouse on the island. San Francisco Earthquake apparently founding of the United Nations in San Fran­ produces a large fissure in the rock, but no cisco. No action taken on this proposal. Bear Flag Revolt ends Mexican rule of structural damage to any buildings. California. A series of conflicting claims and 1968 litigations over title to Alcatraz ensues. 1906-1909 Federal and California State agencies indicate Construction of present main prison building to GSA that they do not wish to acquire the 1848 and many of present supporting facilities. island. Alcatraz Island ceded to U.S. Government by Republic of Mexico. 1907 City of San Francisco expresses interest in Alcatraz Island ceases to be known as Fort acquiring Alcatraz and calls for development 1850 Alcatraz; is designated the Pacific Branch of proposals. Some 500 proposals received. Alcatraz Island reserved for "public purpose" the United States Military Prison. by executive order of President Millard Fill­ 1969 more. While the specific public purpose is 1915 Interior Secretary Hickel asks GSA to delay not declared in the reservation order, sub­ Facilities renamed; U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, decision on disposition of Alcatraz until sequent documents and events indicate the Alcatraz Island. Department can consider potential as "Parks original purpose of reservation was military. to People" project. Mayor and Board of 1934 Supervisors support new Federal study, as 1853-1858 Alcatraz Island officially designated a Federal does Coalition to Conserve Alcatraz. Military fort and lighthouse construction by Civil Penitentiary following War Department's Army engineers. The fortifications and determination that it was no longer needed 1969-1971 lighthouse were the first to be constructed for defense purposes. While under military Indian occupation of Alcatraz. on the West Coast. jurisdiction, no shots were fired in combat. 1972 1854 1938 Legislation to establish Golden Gate Alcatraz lighthouse begins operation. Title to Alcatraz Island passes to Department National Recreation Area as part of of Justice. President's Environmental Program 1858 introduced in Congress. Completion of initial fortifications. 1962 U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Bill establishing Golden Gate NRA, including 1866 announces Alcatraz to be phased out of Alcatraz as a unit, is signed into law by Additional fortifications built. Federal Penitentiary System. President Nixon. 1868 1963 1973 War Department designates Alcatraz as a place Last prisoners are removed from Alcatraz. October—Alcatraz open to the public. .

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