Alcatraz Island

By ifibela7297

  • Alcatraz Island

    Spanish explorer Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala maps San Francisco Bay and names the island "de los Alcatraces"

  • California Becomes U.S Property

    California becomes U.S property at the end of the Mexican-American War. Gold is discovered along the American River and the Gold Rush begins

  • Triangle of Defense

    A joint Army and Navy commission recommends a Triangle of Defense to guard San Francisco Bay. President Fillmore signs a Executive Order reserving lands around San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, for "public purposes."

  • First Lighthouse on Pacific Coast

    The Alcatraz lighthouse begins service as the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast

  • Command of Alcatraz

    Capt. Joseph Stewart and 86 men of Company H, Third U.S Artillery take command of Alcatraz

  • Civil War Begins

    Fort Sumter is attacked by Confederates and the Civil War begins. Col. Johnston prepares San Francisco defenses, then resigns to serve the Confederacy

  • Imprisoned on Alcatraz

    J.M Chapman, a Confederate privateer ship, is seized and its crew is arrested and imprisoned on Alcatraz
    Capt. William Winder authorizes Alcatraz to fire a blank shot at HMS Sutlej
    Lower prison, a temporary wooden structure is built. Soon other prison structures are added on to it.

  • Photographing Alcatraz

    Capt. Winder authorizes Bradley and Bulofson to photograph Alcatraz and sell prints, which are later confiscated by the War Department

  • Alcatraz Troops Sent to San Francisco

    Alcatraz troops are sent to San Francisco to preserve peace and prevent rioting after President Lincoln's assassination. Alcatraz cannons fire the official mourning for the dead president

  • Plans on Alcatraz

    Major George Mendell designs plans for earthwork defenses on Alcatraz

  • Great Sham Battle

    Centennial Great Sham Battle proves Alcatraz are no longer adequate.

  • Hopi Tribe Imprisoned

    Nineteen members of the Hopi Tribe are imprisoned on Alcatraz for resisting the policy of forced education of their children and land alotment programs contrary to their beliefs

  • Prison Overcrowding

    Spanish-American War results in prison overcrowding at Alcatraz

  • Upper Prison

    Upper prison (Alcatraz's second name) is built on the Parade Ground

  • U.S. Military Prison

    Alcatraz is designated as the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison".

  • New Cell House

    The new cell house (Alcatraz's third prison which still stands today), built with convict labor, is completed and prisoners move in

  • Alcatraz is Renamed

    Alcatraz is renamed the "United States, Disciplinary Barracks".

  • Alcatraz is Transferred

    Alcatraz is transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 32 of the worst military prisoners remain on the island in civilian custody