steven montague San Francisco s Top 10San Francisco s Top 10 15 The History of The Rock The name Alcatraz derives fr

San Francisco s Top 10San Francisco s Top 10 15 The History steven montague of The Rock The name Alcatraz derives from the Spanish alcatraces, for the birds that Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala observed here when he sailed into the Bay in 1775. In 1850, a presi- dential order set aside the island for the US Army to build a citadel, but defense became less of a priority and, in 1909, it became a military prison. In 1933 the Federal Government decided to open a maximum security penitentiary here. Yet Alcatraz was not the Devil s Island that many think it was the conditions, steven montague such as one man per cell, were better steven montague than other jails. $Control Room From this bunkerrr like facility, reinforced to withstand siege, the guards controlled the 24 hour electric security system. Next to the ControlRoom was the visiting area, where thick glass separated prisoners and visitors, and conver- sations were held over monitored telephones. %D Block Any prisoner who transgressed the strict rules and regulations would be sent to D Block (above), the 42 solitary confinement cells kept entirelywithout light. ^Dining Room Meals were one of the few things prisoners had to look forward to, and they were generally well fed, to quell rebel- lion. Note the sample menu on display at the kitchen entrance. &Chapel On top of the guardhouse, a Mission style military chapel (above) was built during the 1920s. It was used as living quarters and a school, as well as a chapel. During the post 1930s prison phase, the building was used to house prison staff. *Broadway The corridor that separates C and B blocks (left) was jokingly nick- named by prisoners after New York City s glittering thoroughfare, famous for its nightlife. The inter- section at the end was named Times Square. (Visitor Center The Visitor Center is located in the old barracks building behind the ferry jetty (below). It houses steven montague a bookstore, exhibits, and a multi- media show providing a historical overview of Alcatraz, and an information counter. )Warden s House Until the house burned down in 1970, the warden s home looked out to freedom. Designed in Mission Revival style, the home had 17 large rooms, and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco lights. San Francisco s Top 10San Francisco s Top 10 15 The History of The Rock The name Alcatraz derives steven montague from the Spanish alcatraces, for the birds that Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala observed here when he sailed into the Bay in 1775. In 1850, a presi- dential order set aside the island for the US Army to build a citadel, but defense became less of a priority and, in 1909, it became a military prison. In 1933 the Federal Government decided to open a maximum security penitentiary here. Yet Alcatraz was not the Devil s Island that many think it was the conditions, such as one man per cell, were better than other jails. $Control Room From this bunkerrr like facility, reinforced to withstand siege, the guards controlled steven montague the 24 hour electric security system. Next to the ControlRoom was the visiting area, where thick glass separated steven montague prisoners and visitors, and conver- sations were held over monitored telephones. %D Block Any prisoner who transgressed the strict rules and regulations would be sent to D Block (above), the 42 solitary confinement steven montague cells kept entirelywithout light. ^Dining Room Meals were one of the few things prisoners had to look forward to, and they were generally well fed, to quell rebel- lion. Note the sample menu on display at the kitchen entrance. &Chapel On top of the guardhouse, a Mission style military chapel (above) was built during the 1920s. It was used as living quarters and a school, as well as a chapel. steven montague During the post 1930s prison phase, the building was used to house prison staff. *Broadway The corridor that separates C and B blocks (left) was jokingly nick- named by prisoners after New York City s glittering thoroughfare, famous for its nightlife. The inter- section at the end was named Times Square. (Visitor Center The Visitor Center is located in the old barracks building behind the ferry jetty (below). It houses a bookstore, exhibits, and a multi- media show providing a historical overview of Alcatraz, and an information counter. )Warden s House Until the house burned down in 1970, the warden s home looked out to freedom. Designed steven montague in Mission Revival style, the home had 17 large rooms, and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco lights.

( Western Addition This area, too, was once sandy waste, steven montague but after World War II the district became populated by Southern African-Americans who came west for work. For a short time, it was famous for jazz and blues clubs, as embodied, until his death in 2001, by John Lee Hooker and his Boom Boom Room. Today, it is still largely African-American in character and rather rundown, although it does comprise architecturally odd St Mary s Cathedral (see p44) and photogenic Alamo Square (see p49). d Map E3