![]() Alcatraz also housed a number of “rebellious” American Indians, including 19 Hopis from the Arizona Territory who were sent to the prison in 1895 following land disagreements with the federal government. ![]() It was assumed no Alcatraz inmate could attempt to escape by swimming and survive.ĭuring its years as a military prison, the inmates at Alcatraz included Confederate sympathizers and citizens accused of treason during the American Civil War (1861-65). Isolated from the mainland by the cold, strong waters of San Francisco Bay, the island was deemed an ideal location for a prison. Army had begun holding military prisoners at Alcatraz. First held in 1980, the event includes a 1.5-mile swim to San Francisco, plus an 18-mile bike ride and 8-mile run.īy the late 1850s, the U.S. Also during this time, Alcatraz became home to the West Coast’s first operational lighthouse.ĭid you know? Each year, hundreds of athletes participate in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, proving that (with training and proper gear) it is possible to swim from Alcatraz and survive. During the 1850s, a fortress was constructed on Alcatraz and some 100 cannons were installed around the island to protect San Francisco Bay. Seventy-five years later, in 1850, President Millard Fillmore (1800-74) signed an order reserving the island for military use. In 1775, Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala (1745-97) mapped and named rugged Alcatraz Island, christening it La Isla de los Alcatraces, or Island of the Pelicans, due to its large population of sea birds.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |