Alcatraz Island - A Brief History
THE ROCK
Alcatraz Island sits isolated amidst the cold winds of the bay.
Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala named this foreboding
rock for the pelicans nesting there. This infamous island, the subject
of legend, lore and a few Hollywood movies, once held scores of
prisoners incarcerated above its cliffs.
PRISON
First used as a prison by the U.S. Army during the Civil
War, "The Rock" became a maximum security penitentiary
in 1934, during the post-Prohibition, post-Depression America. Federal
officials talked about creating a special prison for kidnappers,
racketeers, and individuals guilty of predatory crimes. In fact,
the public peace seemed constantly threatened by crime - and Alcatraz
seemed to be the ideal response to that threat.
At first, Alcatraz was somewhat of an experiment. Prisoners from
other institutions who were especially difficult to manage were
sent here. This type of segregation had never been practiced before,
but it worked well enough to serve as a model for the federal prison
located in Marion, Illinois.
Though Alcatraz is thought to have housed many notorious criminals,
only a handful of truly famous names did time on this harsh island.
Mobster Al Capone, bank robber Leon "Whitey" Thompson,
George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz,"
Robert Stroud (who, by the way, was not permitted to continue
his avian studies during his 17 years on the island). Numerous escapes
(36 to be exact) were attempted, though there is no evidence that
anyone ever made it through the icy, shark-infested waters to freedom.
The prison closed in 1964 due to prohibitive operating costs.
NATIVE AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Prior to the coming of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, over
10,000 indigenous people, later to be called the Ohlone (a
Miwok Indian word meaning "western people"), lived in the coastal
area between Point Sur and the San Francisco Bay.
Native American oral histories suggest that tribal members
were isolated or ostracized on Alcatraz when they violated
a tribal law or taboo. Other stories cite the island's use as a
camping spot, an area for gathering foods, especially bird eggs
and sea-life, and a hiding place for many Indians attempting to
escape from the California Mission system.
On November 9, 1969, Richard Oakes, a Mohawk Indian,
and a group of Indian supporters set out in a chartered boat, the
Monte Cristo, to symbolically claim the island for the Indian
people. On November 20, 1969, this symbolic occupation turned into
a full scale occupation which lasted until June 11, 1971.
The Indians' demands were clear: they wanted the deed to the island,
and they wanted to establish an Indian university, a cultural center,
and a museum. The government refused to negotiate and insisted that
they leave the island. By early 1970, the Indian's organization
on the island began to disintegrate to such a point that Oakes left
the island. After many months of declining leadership on the island
and government attempts to oust the Native Americans and the growing
drug culture, President Nixon gave the go ahead to develop
a removal plan -- to take place when the smallest number of people
were on the island and to use as little force as possible.
On June 10, 1971, the occupation ended. Shortly thereafter, the
official government policy of termination of Indian tribes was ended
and a policy of Indian self-determination became the official US
government policy.
A collection
of unique photographs which historically document the 1969-1971
occupation of Alcatraz Island by Indians Here
ALCATRAZ TODAY
The National Park Service administers Alcatraz Island as a unit
of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). A variety of
tours of the island are offered - for more information, visit Official
Park Service Site
See the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse
and enjoy the island's many natural features - gardens, tide pools,
bird colonies, and breathtaking bay views. Be sure to wear sturdy
walking shoes and bring a jacket.
Recommended
Online Reading:
Atcatraz
History Online: Here
Escape Information:
Here
Military
Post at Alcatraz Island: Here
Picture of
working conditions while prison was open: Here
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