background

Monday, August 16, 2010

San Francisco Trip - Part Two

On August 11th and 12th, 2010, I had the opportunity to visit San Francisco, California. This post is Part Two of a Two-Part trip report (See Pt. I here). After exploring the Marin Headlands in Northern San Francisco, including a trip down the side of a mountain through unidentified vegetation, I rushed over to Pier 33 in hopes of making it in time for the boat to Alcatraz Island...

Standing in line at Pier 33 was one of the rare moments in the trip that wasn't lost in a blur of rushing around from one place to the next. I checked with the desk and my spot was confirmed. I made it. Back at home before I left, I made the painful realization that Alcatraz was sold out for the duration of this trip. The infamous island prison that I had dreamed about since I was young was shutting me out. It wasn't until I had already left Saint Louis and was en route to San Francisco that my amazing girlfriend wife was able to snatch up a cancelled ticket as part of their first-come, first-serve policy. Alcatraz turned out to be the best part of the trip and one of my all time favorite locations that I've ever explored.

I wasn't planning to explore Alcatraz. I was just happy to be on this tour and I was going to enjoy it regardless... But then I came to my senses when an opportunity presented itself. Before I knew it, I was out of bounds and needed to either proceed further in order to get out of sight or come back the way I came and try to sneak back into the group, which in itself was risky. I chose the former option and soon found myself exploring a set of abandoned buildings whose familiar moldy and decaying aesthetic was spiced up with the added flavors of exotic coastal saltwater and extra risk. Alone, I carefully navigated every accessible portion of the building and I did my best to stay out of sight. But there were people everywhere outside and at one point I failed to remain inconspicuous when I caught the concerned glance of a tourist. Her expression signaled to me that I might just be in a lot of trouble soon, so I disappeared further into the labyrinth to continue adventuring out of sight. I became pretty worried that I'd soon hear footsteps in some corner of the building that weren't my own and I needed to find a discreet way back into the crowds. I just happened to be passing by a window (facing the alley in which I was spotted earlier) when a Park Ranger entered the scene. I was extremely anxious and mad at mysef because I hadn't even been inside the prison yet and had barely seen any of the island at all. I was holding my breath as I watched him through a dirty old window. I tried slowly backing away from the window to expose less of my silhouette to his peripheral, but my jacket was caught on some stupid metal mesh material sticking out of the wall and it was prohibitively noisy. All I could do at this point was stand perfectly still and accept my fate. The guard stopped and looked in my direction and then to the left. He pointed a flashlight in a few dark corners and then he walked down the same route we had both taken earlier.

After exhausting the navigable portions of this off-limits corner of the island (Building 64 and China Alley), I decided that I had better see the prison before I get caught somewhere else and thus ruin my once in a lifetime chance to see the infamous Alcatraz that I came here for. I soon learned that the only way to get pictures of this place without herds of tourists ruining every possible shot is to be the only one there...

History of Alcatraz

There are a gazillion websites which already exist that go into great detail on the history of Alcatraz, so I will simply provide a brief summary here.

Alcatraz was first documented by Europeans in 1775 when Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala charted the bay area. Alcatraz island at the time was named "La Isla de los Alcatraces". Alcatraz is an old Spanish word which means "pelicans" and the island was so named because of the large population of pelicans observed here. In 1846, the United States purchased the island for $5,000 and in 1850, President Millard Fillmore ordered the island to be set aside as a miliary reservation following the acquisistion of California from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American war. Beginning in 1853, Alcatraz island was built up as a military fortress with the construction of the "Citadel" and by the American Civil War, the island was covered by more than 100 canons and was simultaneously being used as a miliary prison.

In 1909, the Citadel was demolished down to the first floor for construction of the main cell block which was completed in 1912. This new prison was designated as the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks for the U.S. Army, Pacific Branch. It served in this role until October 12, 1933 when the Army's 80-year ownership of the island ended with its transferral to the U.S. Department of Justice.

On August 11, 1934, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary received its first prisoners from Leavenworth and for the remainder of its 29 years as a maximum security prison it specifically housed the most difficult/notorious criminals of the time. Notable among them were Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis, "Doc" Barker and Whitey Bulger. There were 14 escape attempts which resulted in six prisoners shot and killed and five listed as "missing and presumed drowned". The most notable attempt was carried out by Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin on June 11, 1962. The "official" results of their escape is missing/drowned, but it remains unknown/entirely possible they survived.

On March 21, 1963, less than one year after the last escape attempt, Alcatraz was shut down. Alcatraz remained abandoned for about 10 years following its closure until 1973 when it was opened to the public as part of the National Park Service.

Source: Bureau of Prisons, Wikipedia. All historic photos are courtesy of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library, Library of Congress, the National Park Service, the Associated Press and Getty Images.

Begin Historic Photos

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Island Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Dock Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Dock Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Administration Building Group Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Broadway Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Prisoners Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Hospital Beds Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Birdman Photo

Alcatraz Penitentiary Historic Photos
Historic Alcatraz Operating Room Photo

End Historic Photos

Alcatraz Prison Island copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island With Fog

Alcatraz Prison Island Warning Sign copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island Warning Sign

Alcatraz Prison Island Dock copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island Dock

Alcatraz Prison Wall With Barred Windows copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Penitentiary Wall With Barred Windows

Alcatraz Prison Exterior Light copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Penitentiary Exterior Light

Alcatraz Prison Administration Building Exterior copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Penitentiary Administration Building Exterior

Cell Blocks

Alcatraz Prison Times Square copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Times Square

Alcatraz Prison Broadway Cells copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Broadway Cells

Alcatraz Cell Blocks copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz B-Block

Alcatraz Cell Blocks copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz C-Block

Alcatraz Cell Blocks copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Cell Blocks

Alcatraz C-D Street copyright 2024 sublunar
C-D Street

Alcatraz C-Block copyright 2024 sublunar
C-Block

Alcatraz Dark Cell Blocks copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Cell Blocks

Alcatraz Visitation Area copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Visitation Area

Alcatraz Prison Cell Block Corner copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Penitentiary Cell Block Corner

Alcatraz Prison Escape Cell copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Penitentiary Escape Cell

Medical Ward

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Operating Room copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Operating Room

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Ward Operating Room Side View copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Operating Room Side View

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Ward Beds copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Beds

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Ward Medical Equipment Wheelchair copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Medical Equipment

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Cells copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Cells

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Ward Dark Cell copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Ward Dark Cell

Alcatraz Prison Hydrotherapy copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Hydrotherapy

Alcatraz Hospital Ward Tiles and Decay copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Hospital Tiles and Decay

Alcatraz Prison Hospital Ward copyright 2024 sublunar
Robert Stroud's Hospital Cell

Alcatraz - D-Block - Solitary

Alcatraz Prison D-Block Solitary and Segregation Cells copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Solitary and Segregation Cells

Alcatraz Prison Solitary Block Segregation Cells copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Segregation Cells

Alcatraz Prison Solitary Block Segregation Cell copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Segregation Cell #6

Alcatraz Prison Solitary Cells copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Solitary Cells

Alcatraz Prison Solitary Doors copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Solitary Cell #9

Alcatraz Prison Solitary # 13 copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz D-Block Solitary Cell #13

Alcatraz Prison Solitary Cell Interior copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block Solitary Cell Interior

Alcatraz Prison D-Block/Library Door copyright 2024 sublunar
D-Block/Library Door

Library

Alcatraz Prison Library Cage copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Library Cage

Alcatraz Prison Library copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Library Bookshelf

Alcatraz Prison Library Corner copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Library Corner

Cell Block Extras

Alcatraz Cell Block Spiral Staircase copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Cell Block Spiral Staircase

Alcatraz Cutoff Area Between Cell Blocks copyright 2024 sublunar
"Cutoff" Area Between Cell Blocks

Alcatraz cutoff Area Between Cell Blockscopyright 2024 sublunar
"Cutoff" Area Between Cell Blocks

Battle of Alcatraz Grenade Hole copyright 2024 sublunar
Battle of Alcatraz Grenade Hole

Battle of Alcatraz Grenade Damage copyright 2024 sublunar
Battle of Alcatraz Grenade Damage

Cells

Alcatraz Penitentiary Cell Interior copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Cell Interior

Alcatraz Penitentiary Cell Interior copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Cell Interior

Alcatraz Penitentiary Cell Interior copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Cell Interior

rec yard

Alcatraz Prison Recreation Yard copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Recreation Yard

Alcatraz Prison Water Tower copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Water Tower

Alcatraz copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Recreation Yard Door

Alcatraz Prison Rec Yard Door to Nowhere copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Recreation Yard Door To Ocean

Alcatraz Recreation Yard Workshop Stairs copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Recreation Yard Workshop Stairs

Alcatraz Workshop Catwalk copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Workshop Catwalk

Alcatraz Exterior Ocean View copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island Exterior Ocean View

Alcatraz Island Exterior Ocean View copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island Exterior Ocean View

Alcatraz Recreation Yard Walls copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Recreation Yard Walls

Alcatraz Prison Recreation Yard Wall Detail copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Recreation Yard Wall Detail

Dining Hall/Kitchen

Alcatraz Times Square Dining Hall Entrance copyright 2024 sublunar
Times Square Dining Hall Entrance

Alcatraz Kitchen copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Kitchen

Alcatraz Kitchen Sink copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Kitchen Sink

Guard Station

Alcatraz Guard Station Control Room copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Guard Station Control Room

Alcatraz copyright 2024 sublunar
Guard Station Control Room and Entrance

Alcatraz Guard Station Control Room Visitation copyright 2024 sublunar
Control Room and Visitation

exteriors

Alcatraz Prison Building Exterior Corner Road copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Prison Exterior Corner Road

Alcatraz Prison Building and Water Tower copyright 2024 sublunar
Main Prison Building and Water Tower

Alcatraz Prison Building Exterior Door copyright 2024 sublunar
Main Prison Building Exterior Door

Alcatraz Exterior Corner and Birds copyright 2024 sublunar
Exterior Corner and Birds

Alcatraz Main Prison Building Exterior Corner copyright 2024 sublunar
Main Prison Building Exterior Corner

Alcatraz Main Prison Building Exterior copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Main Prison Building Exterior

Alcatraz Main Prison Building Rec Yard Exterior copyright 2024 sublunar
Rec Yard Exterior

Alcatraz Island Dock Guard Tower copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Island Dock Guard Tower

Building 64

Alcatraz Building 64 Rear Catwalks copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Building 64 Rear Catwalks

Alcatraz Building 64 Interior Stairs Ocean View copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Interior Stairs Ocean View

Alcatraz Building 64 Dock View copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Dock View

Alcatraz Building 64 Balcony Guard Tower Ocean View copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Balcony Guard Tower Ocean View

Alcatraz Building 64 Interior Top of Stairs copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Interior Top of Stairs

Alcatraz Building 64 Apartment Fireplacecopyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Apartment Fireplace

Alcatraz Building 64 Apartment Kitchen copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Apartment Kitchen

Alcatraz Building 64 Apartment Bathroom Fireplace copyright 2024 sublunar
Apartment Bathroom Fireplace

Alcatraz Building 64 Blue Room Fireplace copyright 2024 sublunar
Blue Apartment Fireplace

Alcatraz Building 64 Blue Apartment copyright 2024 sublunar
Blue Apartment

Alcatraz Building 64 Dirty Ocean View copyright 2024 sublunar
Dirty Ocean View

Alcatraz Building 64 Stairs Landing copyright 2024 sublunar
Stairs Landing

Alcatraz Building 64 Exit copyright 2024 sublunar
Building 64 Exit

China Alley

Alcatraz China Alley Building 64 copyright 2024 sublunar
China Alley Behind Building 64

Alcatraz China Alley copyright 2024 sublunar
China Alley

Alcatraz China Alley Model Ship copyright 2024 sublunar
Model Ship

Alcatraz China Alley Cellar Workshop copyright 2024 sublunar
China Alley Cellar Workshop

Alcatraz China Alley Registration copyright 2024 sublunar
Registration

Alcatraz China Alley Lower Level copyright 2024 sublunar
China Alley Lower Level

Alcatraz China Alley Tunnel copyright 2024 sublunar
Tunnel To China Alley

Extras

Alcatraz Warden's House Ruins copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Warden's House Ruins

Alcatraz Warden's House Ruins Bird and Flowers copyright 2024 sublunar
Warden's House Ruins Bird and Flowers

Alcatraz Ruins copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Ruins

Alcatraz Ruins and Lighthouse copyright 2024 sublunar
Ruins and Lighthouse

Alcatraz Garden copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Garden

Alcatraz Ruins Ocean View and San Francisco copyright 2024 sublunar
Alcatraz Ruins Ocean View and San Francisco

Alcatraz Garden View and San Francisco copyright 2024 sublunar
Garden View and San Francisco

Alcatraz Island With Heavy Fog copyright 2024 sublunar
Foggy Alcatraz Island Prison