Before gaining infamy, Alcatraz was just a rocky island home to seabirds. In 1775, the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala mapped and named it La Isla de los Alcatraces (Island of the Pelicans). Though its location was strategic, it remained undeveloped until the mid-19th century, when the U.S. acquired California in 1846. By 1850, President Millard Fillmore designated it as a military reservation, and this marked the beginning of Alcatraz’s transformation into the most fortified site on the West Coast.
Alcatraz's history explained
From Pelicans to Fortifications (1775 to 1850s)
Alcatraz as a military fortress & prison (1850s to 1933)
The U.S. Army fortified the island with over 100 cannons, as part of the Bay's Triangle of Defense. In 1854, it also became home to the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. During the Civil War, Alcatraz began housing prisoners, first Confederate sympathizers, then soldiers and civilians accused of treason. By 1907, it was officially renamed Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison, and by 1912, it was cemented its role as a high-security facility.
America’s most notorious federal prison (1934 to 1963)
Amid the Great Depression, in 1934, the U.S. Government took over and turned Alcatraz into a federal prison for the most dangerous inmates—those who caused trouble at other prisons. It held high-profile criminals like Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert "Birdman", offering no rehab programs and enforcing strict discipline. Of the 14 attempted escapes, none succeeded, though the 1962 breakout by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers remains legendary—their bodies were never found. Sadly, however, high costs and decay led to its closure in 1963.
A stage for protest: Native American occupation (1969 to 1971)
In 1969, Alcatraz became a symbol of protest when Native Americans from a group called the Indians of All Tribes occupied the island, citing a treaty allowing claims to unused federal land. The 19-month occupation drew national attention to Indigenous rights, with activists running programs and press events from the island. Though it ended in 1971, it sparked lasting change in federal policies on Native American self-determination. Today, murals and memorials on Alcatraz honor this pivotal movement.
From abandonment to preservation (1972 to Present)
After the Native American occupation, Alcatraz became a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 and opened to the public in 1973. Restoration efforts preserved landmarks like the Cellhouse and lighthouse, while reviving historic gardens tended previously by the military families. Exhibits now explore prison life, military history, and Native activism. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986, Alcatraz welcomes over a million visitors each year, drawn by its layered and powerful past.
