Government: Law

This is an image of Golden Gate Recreation: Alcatraz

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, prisoner, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. Visitors to the island can not only explore the remnants of the prison, but learn about the Native American occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse. These structures stand among the island's many natural features - gardens, tidepools, bird nests, and bay views beyond compare.

Alcatraz is best known for its sinister reputation. Called "The Rock", "Hellcatraz"and "Uncle Sam's Devils Island" Alcatraz is best remembered for its 29 years as the maximum-security, minimum-privilege federal penitentiary that housed some of America's most notorious criminals.

Born of necessity, perhaps even political expediency, Alcatraz represents the federal government's response to post-Prohibition, post-Depression America. Both the institution and the men confined within its walls are a part of this era, and in order to be studied with any degree of understanding, it must be attended to with a focus on this time period. Prisons are a reflection of society and the reflection offered by Alcatraz is one of great clarity.