History
People
While the people most often associated with Alcatraz Island are the infamous inmates of the United States Bureau of Prisons (1934 to 1963), many others - before and after the well known penitentiary years - have helped shape the history of the Rock. Find out more by following the links below.
On January 4, 1895, the San Francisco Call published a story under the headline "A Batch of Apaches." The article stated, "Nineteen murderous-looking Apache Indians were landed at Alcatraz island yesterday morning." The article misidentified the 19 Hopi men who had been arrested at Orayvi the previous November. The article is filled with racial stereotypes of murderous and "crafty redskins" who refused to live according to the "civilized ways of the white men."
This part of our website is a joint project of the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Alcatraz Island (California) and the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, The Hopi Tribe (Arizona). These articles and photographs document an event connecting the history of Hopi and Alcatraz.
Hopi History: The Story of the Alcatraz Inmates is authored by historian Wendy Holliday, formerly with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. It was first published in Tutuveni on December 15, 1995. Her article traces the government's Indian policy and the effect it had on the people of Hopi in the late 19th century, culminating with the imprisonment of 19 Hopi men by the U.S. Army on Alcatraz Island in 1895. Read the entire article here.
The Army and the American Indian Prisoners was written by Ranger Craig Glass to accompany the article published by the Hopi Tribe. Looking at the entire history of the island, most prisoners held on Alcatraz were in fact U.S. military personnel. Notable exceptions included Southern sympathizers/supporters during the Civil War, conscientious objectors during WWI, and a number of Native Americans, beginning in 1873. On June 5 of that year the first Indian prisoner arrived. Paiute Tom was on a transfer from Camp McDermit in Nebraska for reasons now unknown. Learn more about the American Indian prisoners of the Rock here.
History & Culture
The history of Alcatraz is surprising to those that only know the Hollywood version. Civil War fortress, infamous federal prison, bird sanctuary, first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement are a few of the stories of the Rock. The links above and below will take you to them. These are excellent sources for students working on an Alcatraz assignment as well as fore those planning a visit and wanting to know more.
Click on Places to learn about the military history (1850 - 1934), the federal penitentiary (1934 - 1963), and perhaps the most influential event in the island's history - the American Indian occupation (1964 and 1969 - 1971) that saved the tribes and maybe the island too.
Click on People to learn of some of the famous, and not so famous people associated with the Rock.
To see items from the National Parks museum collection, and learn more about all the history of Alcatraz, click on Collections.
In the early 1970's the National Park Service, Historic Preservation Division of the Denver Service Center, commissioned historian Erwin N. Thompson to write a Historic Resoure Study of Alcatraz Island shortly after the island was transfered to Golden Gate National Recreation Area. While in the public domain, due to a limited print run it has not generally been availale to the general public. But that has now changed. The document is two fairly large PDF files - the first file is the text of that publication. The second file is the appendicies - maps - of the island and its many incarnations (some of the maps are truncated due to the limitations of available scanners). Note that more recent research has improved on some parts of THE ROCK, yet it still remains the definitive work on the history of Alcatraz Island.
Their is much information on the World Wide Web related to the Rock. This page has links to some of the websites we recommend for additional information on the island of the pelicans (isla de los alcatraces).
If you wish to purchase tickets for the island, or to check schedules or prices, visit Alcatraz Cruises LLC.
Alcatraz In Depth
News from the Parks
Colorado Section of Vast Bike Network is 1,000 Miles
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
Ranchers Oppose Yellowstone Bison Relocation
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
A Trip to Yosemite National Park via YARTS is a Must for Valley Residents
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
Nene Killed on the Road in Haleakala National Park
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
Life's a Beach: U.S. Virgin Islands are Calling You
January 5, 2009 - 12:19pm
Don't just sit there. Pick a destination and plan a vacation, maybe to someplace a little exotic, where national parks come with tropical beaches, and boats rather than big RVs are a common mode of transportation. You can enjoy all that without fretting over currency exchange rates or making sure that your passport is up to date if you head to a little paradise called the U.S. Virgin Islands.
January 5, 2009 - 12:19pm
Don't just sit there. Pick a destination and plan a vacation, maybe to someplace a little exotic, where national parks come with tropical beaches, and boats rather than big RVs are a common mode of transportation. You can enjoy all that without fretting over currency exchange rates or making sure that your passport is up to date if you head to a little paradise called the U.S. Virgin Islands.
