As one of America s most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California s History for over 155 years.
Alcatraz served as a pivotal military position until the early 20th century and in 1934 was converted into a federal penite.
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.
As one of America s most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California s History for over 155 years