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Dienstag, Januar 13, 2026
Alcatraz Island, San-Francisco-Bucht, Kalifornien, USA
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Alcatraz History Timeline: Fortress, Prison, Park

A visual Alcatraz timeline from 19th-century fortress to modern national park, with key dates, milestones, and photos.

1/13/2025
14 min read
Historic view of Alcatraz as a 1800s military fortress

Alcatraz's evolution mirrors America’s coastal defense and justice eras — a compact timeline with outsized impact.

1800s Fortress

Timeline at a Glance

Period Role What Changed
1850s–1860s Coastal Fortress Batteries, cannons, military garrison
1860s–1906 Mixed Use Holding deserters and POWs alongside artillery
1907–1933 U.S. Military Prison Expanded confinement, proto‑infrastructure for a penitentiary
1934–1963 Federal Penitentiary Maximum security, infamous inmates, escape lore
1969–1971 Native American Occupation Sovereignty protest; graffiti becomes testimony
1972–today National Park Unit Preservation, tours, and layered interpretation

Reading ruins: Alcatraz is a palimpsest — newer structures straddle older foundations.

Era Highlights

Fortress Era (Civil War)

  • Overlapping fields of fire guard the Golden Gate.
  • Engineering logic prioritizes elevation and visibility.

Military Prison (1907–1933)

  • Discipline over deterrence; routines solidify.
  • Infrastructure seeds later federal prison operations.

Federal Penitentiary (1934–1963)

  • "The end of the line" for difficult inmates.
  • Stories of routine, resistance, and rare escapes.

1928 Aerial 1934 Sea Approach 1970s Ruins

Why It Matters

  • Fortress: Guard the gate.
  • Military prison: Isolate and discipline.
  • Federal penitentiary: Concentrate the “incorrigible.”
  • Protest symbol: Project sovereignty into public view.
  • Park: Share ecology and history with the public.

Map Orientation

Look for numbered site maps at the dock and interpretive signs near the Cellhouse.

Numbered Map

Über den Autor

Alcatraz Historian

Alcatraz Historian

Ich habe diesen Guide geschrieben, damit dein Alcatraz‑Tag einfach, informativ und erinnerungswürdig ist — mit ehrlichen Tipps aus wiederholten Besuchen.

Tags

Alcatraz
History
Timeline
Fortress
Penitentiary

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