Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island, one of the most famous places to see and visit during a trip to San Francisco. Alcatraz was the site of the first lighthouse on the coast of California in 1854. In 1861, the island became a residence for military offenders In 1907,the island was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.
From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz was home for some of the most dangerous prisoners there were. There are a total of 450 cells but there were no more than 250 prisoners in the prison at a time. In 1964, a group of Native Americans claimed the island saying it was unclaimed governement land. In 1971, they were forced off by federal marshals. In 1972, Alcatraz became apart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is now open to the public and is widely visited by many tourists.
