Task 13 - Visit a National Park (Alcatraz Island)

(13) Visit a National Park

Name: Alcatraz Island

Rating: 5-stars 
Located just a short distance from the San Francisco shoreline sits one of the most infamous prisons in the country; Alcatraz. While currently a National Park, open to visitors year round, Alcatraz has a storied past as a military fort, military prison, federal prison and Indian occupied during the late 60’s and early 70’s.

Because of its isolation and the strong currents that make escape impossible it made for the perfect prison first housing civil war prisoners as early as 1861. In 1898 the Spanish-American war increased its prisoner population and again it increased after the 1906 earthquake when civilian prisoners where transferred here for safe confinement.

In 1933 Alcatraz began its most famous period serving as a Federal Prison. It was during this time that Alcatraz housed some of the most violent and deviant criminals of the time. Those incarcerated here include George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R “Doc” Barker, James “Whitey” Bulger, Rover “the birdman” Stroud, Al Capone and Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Kapowicz.

During its 29 years in operation no prisoner is known to have successfully escaped. There was 14 attempts by 36 prisoners. 23 were caught, 2 drowned, and 5 are listed as missing and presumed drowned. The most violet attempt occurred on May 2, 1946 and is known as the Battle of Alcatraz.

On March 21, 1963 the prison closed by the order of Attorney General Robert F Kennedy. The island remained unoccupied until the end of 1969 when in protest a group of Native Americans took control in protest. They stayed until June of 1971.

In 1976 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Place and in 1986 it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

I took my opportunity while in San Francisco to visit Alcatraz. We took the ferry from San Francisco and enjoyed the short ride through the choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay. At the island I learned everything you just read and got a glimpse of what prison life here would have been like while taking the self guided audio tour that is part of your admission. The prison cells were small and cramped and life was clearly very restricted. The island however was beautiful and the gardens were carefully tended and flourishing. Much of the prison and surrounding buildings are in rough shape. Many buildings have been lost over the years to fire and age and even the main cell block I noticed many windows broken. It appears that they are beginning to work on stabilizing the island and its rich history. The water tower was covered in a shroud as they sandblasted it and prepared to repaint it.

I hope that the island can be maintained and that its history is preserved. It was a interesting chapter in our countries history and to all those who visit a reminder of what may be ahead for you should you decide to commit a crime.

I found it most interesting because of my visit to Robbin Island in South Africa where South Africa jailed its political prisoners such as Nelson Mandela. It was amazing to see how differently our prison system was from theirs. Next I want to visit a working modern prison with the Criminal Justice group from Nichols College. I think it would be interesting to see how prisons have changed.