CG's Gazette: March 2011

Before Alcatraz became home to many criminals in the country, it was a place avoided by the Native Americas who believed the island to be filled with evil spirits. This Ohlone ("Western People") tribe often used this island as a place to send members of their group who violated their tribal laws. Some Ohlone put aside the legends of the evil spirits and used the island for food gatherings: bird eggs and sea-life. Little did they know that this island would serve them as a refuge from the Spanish's imposition into Christianity a few years later. Spanish Explorer Juan Manuel Ayala named Alcatraz as "La Isla de los Alcatraces" in 1775 .

In the late 1840s, after the end of the Mexican-American War, California, along with the island, became part of the US. It wasn't long before the U.S. Army realized that the position of the island was a strategic spot to defend the SF Bay. By 1854 the lighthouse was already positioned and canons were mounted all over the island. The rest of the fortress took years to complete since much of the workers were more interested in finding gold rather than building Alcatraz and most of the granite used had to be imported from China.

Over the years, this island served as a military outpost, a fort, a military prison, a federal prison, and finally, a national park.

Got tickets of the Alcatraz tour at Fisherman's Wharf Pier 33:

Fisherman's Wharf

On the Cruise to Alcatraz Island ^^

Alcatraz Island ^^

Getting Closer ^^^

....and closer ^^^^

...Arriving ^^^

...There^^^

Building 64: First building you see when stepping off the boat. Originally served as military barracks, then became noise sanctuary to the prison guards and their families. Children who lost a toy out the window had to lower a basket so that one of the prisoner-workers would help retrieve it.

Sally Port: First imprisonment of Alcatraz in 1859 were 11 soldiers. During the Civil war this island was used as a military prison for rapists, murderers, thieves, and especially for those accused of high treason. Military also used Alcatraz to imprison many Native Americans captured during various Indian Wars.

Starting the Audio Tour ^^

Getting headphones for the audio tour you pass around showers ^^

Some even had soap on them still ^^

Hallways are named after streets and referred to them as such ^^

Hallway at Alcatraz ^^

"What's for breakfast?"

Kitchen at alcatraz ^^

Solitary confinement ^^^

^^ Goosebumps Going in there ^^

Rows and rows of cells ^^

Control Room ^^

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Pics #1 - #8 refer to Alcatraz Escape June 11th 1962: Frank Lee Morris spent many years navigating the prison systems before his arrival to Alcatraz. Prison Officials credited Morris to have superior intelligence. His escapes finally led him to become an inmate at Alcatraz. He was not alone; Brothers John and Clarence Anglin were also serving a sentence in Alcatraz from trying to escape the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta convicted of bank robbery. Plan started to formulate since December of 1961. Allen West (prisoner's cell adjacent to Morris) was let in on the plan. In later interviews, West took credit for masterminding the clever escape. The plan included life-like dummies which were put on their beds, water rafts and life preservers created with over fifty raincoats from other inmates. By May 1962, Morris and the Angling brothers had already dug through the cells (6 by 9 inch vent holes). The inmates would alternate shifts; one on the lookout while the others worked on the wholes. John and Clarence created the dummy heads from homemade cement powder mixture that contained Soap and Toilet paper, flesh-tones paint from prison art kits, and human hair from the barbershop.