Alcatraz island

Alcatraz Island has quite a distinct history. Many people know that Alcatraz served as afederal prison, but most are reluctant to know that this island served as fort. Builtbeforethe Civil War, it served two main purposes. First, that it was to guard the SanFranciscobay area from enemy ships against a foreign invasion, and second, to hold hostageprisoners of war or POW's as they were called. In this report, I'll show you how thisfortress came to be a federal prison, why it is no longer in operation today, and mostimportantly, to show why it was built in the first place. When the great Gold Rush of1849 first started, California grew from what would be considered a small, unpopulatedstate, into what it is now. California is now one of the most populated states and itwasmostly the gold rush that brought attention to California. As the government saw all ofthis happening, they realized that California was much more important than they everrealized.

English: Brandt's Cormorant nesting on Alcatraz Is...

English: Alcatraz Island in 1895.

Alcatraz at dawn on San Francisco Bay

In their realization, they decided that California must be protected. SanFrancisco has one of the largest bays in all of California, and so this was where enemycountries would most likely to try to invade the country. So this is where Alcatraz wastolie, to serve as a military fort. It was supposed to serve as a secondary base incompanionship to another base located on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge. Butwith severe problems trying to build this other base, Alcatraz was to remain alone. Outin the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is definitely a worlduntoitself. Isolation is just one of the many constants of island life for any inhabitant onAlcatraz Island. It is the most reoccurring theme in the unfolding history of AlcatrazIsland. Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most...