Product Description

As one of America’s most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California’s history for over 155 years. 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. Alcatraz served as a pivotal military position until the early 20th century and in 1934 was converted into a federal penitentiary to house some of America’s most incorrigible prisoners. The penitentiary closed in 1963, and Alcatraz joined the National Park Service system in 1972. Since then, it has remained a popular attraction as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #468665 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-28
• Released on: 2008-06-02
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Gregory L. Wellman, a member of the Wells Fargo Historical Services Department and the California Historical Society, reveals in these images the role of Alcatraz since 1853. The island’s startling transformation comes alive through the photographic collections of the Alcatraz Alumni Association, the Golden Gate National Archives, and other private collections from around the country. This stirring imagery documents the evolution of one of America’s most renowned and memorable landmarks.

Customer Reviews

A History of Alcatraz Island 1853-2008 Gregory L. Wellman
The book "A History of Alcatraz Island 1853-2008" by Gregory L. Wellman is fabulous. The photographs are numerous, as are the descriptions of the lives of the prisoners and those employed. It is written so you are pulled into every word, not just reading it, but feeling what it would have been like all those years ago. I suggest History of Alcatraz Island, 1853-2008 (Images of America: California) this book to everyone who enjoys history, or just interesting reading.