Alcatraz Island in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Lower Military Prison
From Fort to Prison
— Golden Gate National Recreation Area —
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, February 1, 2022
1. Lower Military Prison Marker
Inscription.
Lower Military Prison. From Fort to Prison. During the Civil War, Confederate sympathizers, political prisoners, deserters, and other army convicts were sent to Alcatraz. This marked the beginning of the island's evolution from fort to prison. After the war's end, the post was pressed to take an increasing number of military prisoners, forcing construction of temporary cellhouses or other facilities. A cluster of structures along this road was called the "Lower Prison"., After the army renamed Alcatraz "Pacific Branch, Military Prison" in 1907, most of the makeshift buildings were demolished and work began on the cellhouse that stands on the island's summit today. ,
During the Civil War, Confederate sympathizers, political prisoners, deserters, and other army convicts were sent to Alcatraz. This marked the beginning of the island's evolution from fort to prison. After the war's end, the post was pressed to take an increasing number of military prisoners, forcing construction of temporary cellhouses or other facilities. A cluster of structures along this road was called the "Lower Prison".
After the army renamed Alcatraz "Pacific Branch, Military Prison" in 1907, most of the makeshift buildings were demolished and work began on the cellhouse that stands on the island's summit today.
Location. 37° 49.626′ N, 122° 25.344′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is on Alcatraz Island. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94133, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker is located on Alcatraz Island, about 2/3 of the way to the top of the uphill stretch leading to the administration building.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, February 1, 2022
2. Lower Military Prison Marker - wide view
courtesy of the Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley
3. Alcatraz Island (prior to being a federal prison).
"Alcatraz Island (prior to being a federal prison). Disciplinary barracks for recalcitrant soldiers, U.S. Military Barracks; lighthouse, top; old fort (originally for protection of harbor at time of Civil War); tide gauge, semicircular ornament, left (south side) of island." - Bancroft Library
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.