Alcatraz

Alcatraz:

Why this name ?

Information:

The indian and Alcatraz

Location

Military prison

Federal Penitentiarys

Fort of Alcatraz

In 1775 :

A Soanish explorer "Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first European to sail in the bay of San Francisco, he named one of the three islands of this bay "Alcatraces" which was later anglicized into "Alcatraz".

Who does it belong to ?

With California, the island of Alcatraz was originally a spanish colony and then was part of Mexico during its independence before being annexed by the United States in 1850.

In 1853 :

Led by Zealous Bates Tower, the United States Army Corps began to fortify the island. Work ended in December 1859, when the first garrison of the Alcatraz camp was installed. The island was surrounded by high walls and a citadel that was built at the very top near the lighthouse.

In 1861 :

After the civil war, the number of soldier and the power of the artillery were increased on the island, Alcatraz served as a prison for Confederate supporters.

In 1933:

Alcatraz property was transferred to the United States Departement of Justice before transferring its use to the Federal Prisons Office. The upper level of the fort was destroyed to keep only its bases and basement accessible by a closed staircase.

In 1934:

The federal governor decided to make the prison a model institution, offering maximum security to prevent escapes and granting only privileges to inmates.

Partycularity:

The federal governor decided to make the prison a model institution, offering maximum security to prevent escapes and granting only privileges to inmates.On Alcatraz there was 1 guard for 3 prisoners, compare to 1 for 12 to 30 for other prisons. Prisoners were called by a number and not by their name in order to break morally. It was question of showing the public that the state had taken measures to stop the increase in crime in the 1930s. Alcatraz welcomed famous prisoners such as Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Birdman and was also the place of life of the guard and their families.

March 21, 1963:

After 29 years of service, Alcatraz closed definitively by decision of the United State Attorney General Robert Kennedy because the management costs were becoming too high.The American mentalities of the 1960s considered that Alcatraz was no longer sufficiently secure but the closure accelerated because of the successful escape on June 11, 1962 facilitated by the erosion of cement. To replace Alcatraz, Marion penitentiary in the Illinois open the same year.

The origin of this name comes from the ancient Spanish "alcatraces" which designated the pelicans who found refuge on the island is gave its name to the prison, this island is also nicknamed "the Rock".

Pelecanus thagus