As one of America's most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California's history for over 155 years. The small, lonely rock, known in sea charts by its Spanish name Isla de los Alcatraces, or Island of Pelicans, lay essentially dormant until the 1850s, when the military converted the island into a fortress to protect the booming San Francisco region. Alcatraz served as a pivotal military position until the early 20th century and in 1934 was converted into a federal penitentiary to house some of America's most incorrigible prisoners. The penitentiary closed in 1963, and Alcatraz joined the National Park Service system in 1972. Since then, it has remained a popular attraction as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
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Gregory L. Wellman, a member of the Wells Fargo Historical Services Department and the California Historical Society, reveals in these images the role of Alcatraz since 1853. The island's startling transformation comes alive through the photographic collections of the Alcatraz Alumni Association, the Golden Gate National Archives, and other private collections from around the country. This stirring imagery documents the evolution of one of America's most renowned and memorable landmarks.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A History of Alcatraz Island 1853-2008 Gregory L. Wellman,
By Hedgehogchow (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: History of Alcatraz Island, 1853-2008 (Images of America: California) (Paperback)
The book "A History of Alcatraz Island 1853-2008" by Gregory L. Wellman is fabulous. The photographs are numerous, as are the descriptions of the lives of the prisoners and those employed. It is written so you are pulled into every word, not just reading it, but feeling what it would have been like all those years ago. I suggest History of Alcatraz Island, 1853-2008 (Images of America: California) this book to everyone who enjoys history, or just interesting reading.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book,
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This review is from: History of Alcatraz Island, 1853-2008 (Images of America: California) (Paperback)
If you want to know about "the Rock" this is the book to read. It is very well done and really captures the history of Alcatraz.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting history,
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This review is from: History of Alcatraz Island, 1853-2008 (Images of America: California) (Paperback)
Interesting history. I bought this in conjunction with a trip I was taking, which included a tour of Alcatraz. Glad I read the book first :-)
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
James Marshall discovered gold in Coloma, California, on January 24, 1848, changing the development and settlement of the territory drastically. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
park archives Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Courtesy of Chuck Stucker, Courtesy of the Golden Gate, San Francisco, Interpretation Negative Collection, Emil Rychner, Native American, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Coast Guard, Island Federal Penitentiary, World War, Civil War, Bay Area, National Archives, Washington State, Alcatraz Island, Edward Miller, Courtesy of Chantel Elder Photography, Isle of Alcatraz, Office of Resource Management Alcatraz Collection, Esther Faulk, Charlie Ping Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
James Marshall discovered gold in Coloma, California, on January 24, 1848, changing the development and settlement of the territory drastically. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
park archives Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Courtesy of Chuck Stucker, Courtesy of the Golden Gate, San Francisco, Interpretation Negative Collection, Emil Rychner, Native American, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Coast Guard, Island Federal Penitentiary, World War, Civil War, Bay Area, National Archives, Washington State, Alcatraz Island, Edward Miller, Courtesy of Chantel Elder Photography, Isle of Alcatraz, Office of Resource Management Alcatraz Collection, Esther Faulk, Charlie Ping Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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