Alcatraz

Alcatraz, Spanish for pelican, was named Isla de los Alcatraces after the birdds that were the island's only inhabitants. The island served as a miliarty fortification in the 1850's and an incarceration facility for war prisoners during the Spanish-American War.

In 1934 Alcatraz became the infamous maximum-security prison for Mafia criminals and high-risk convicts. Although the island is only a mile from shore, there is no evidence of any successful escapes across the icy bay. The prison was the only one in the federal system that touted hot showers - a luxury designed to keep prisoners from acclimating to cold water. (www.sanfranciscoonline.com)

Click on the pictures below to enlarge them.


View of Alcatraz from the big Hyde Street hill

View of Alcatraz from Pier 39	View of Alcatraz from Pier 40

View of Alcatraz from the Ferry to Sausalito

Various views of Alcatraz from the ferry from Sausalito

Various views of Alcatraz from the ferry from Sausalito

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