Fortress Alcatraz: Guardian of the Golden Gate (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The first recorded sighting of Alcatraz Island was in 1769..." (more)
Key Phrases: wooden cellblocks, scarp walls, earthwork batteries, San Francisco, Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Point (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Before becoming known worldwide as the notorious penitentiary and, more recently, a famous tourist attraction, the little island of Alcatraz in the middle of San Francisco Bay was controlled by the U.S. Army for nearly 90 years. This barren, guano-covered island surrounded by treacherous currents was ideally located to serve its dual purposes as military defense post and prison.

In FORTRESS ALCATRAZ, San Francisco historian John Arturo Martini explains the fascinating history of this landmark, from its discovery and seizure to its role during wartime; its tenure as a maximum-security federal prison; and finally to its present-day status as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visit FORTRESS ALCATRAZ and learn all about the mysterious place called "the Rock." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

* A painstakingly researched history of Alcatraz by former national park ranger and noted Alcatraz historian John Arturo Martini.

* Lavishly illustrated with 150 diagrams and archival photographs, including rare 1869 photos by Eadweard Muybridge.

* Of the many books written on Alcatraz, this is the first to detail the island’s nearly forgotten but fascinating military history. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Pacific Monograph (November 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962922706
• ISBN-13: 978-0962922701
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,734,173 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply great!, December 31, 1997

By A Customer

For the first time, the fascinating story of the U.S. Army's nearly 90 years on Alcatraz comes to life - coastal guns, Civil War and San Francisco, army family life on the island, and tales of the military prison. John Martini describes the Rock in a lively manner and gives us an exciting history, well-illustrated with rare 19th-century photographs." Erwin N. Thompson Historian

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photographs, November 30, 2000

By	T. C. Ross (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A former park ranger stationed at Alcatraz and a military historian, Martini takes readers into the days before "the Rock" became a prison. Starting with the first mappings of San Francisco Bay by the Spanish and English through the modern day, Martini presents an amazing number of photographs of and stories about life on Alcatraz. Particularly interesting is how designs for the fort and its armaments changed over the years from the Mexican-American War through the Civil War and through to World War II. It's quite a different look at the island that the common focus on Al Capone, the Bird Man and other inhabitants of the federal prison.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work - very readable with fantastic photographs., December 30, 1998

By A Customer

John Martini's well-thought-out work gives a very readable, historically accurate look at the "fort period" of Alcatraz Island. John brings the old fort to life, and gives a visitor to Alcatraz a new perspective on the historic site. A real treasure are the numerous photographs John was able to obtain through painstaking research - most were mislabled in the Archives! As a total package, the book is very enjoyable and informative - a very good read.