North Waterfront in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Industrial Buildings

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado

1. Industrial Buildings Marker

Inscription. Work was a privilege on Alcatraz, and most inmates labored five days a week at menial jobs such as making military uniforms and refinishing furniture. Convicts worked in two large factory buildings separated from the rest of the island by double fences topped with barbed wire.

The three-story building at the tip of the island was called Model Shop because is was designed to serve as a “model” of rehabilitation for prisoners. Built by the Army in 1922, it contained carpentry, plumbing, and blacksmith shops. The long two-story building, known as New Industries, was constructed by the Bureau of Prisons in 1940 and served as a laundry, dry cleaning plant, and tailor shops.

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[#3-Industrial Buildings]

(Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 37° 48.392′ N, 122° 24.262′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in North Waterfront. It can be reached from The Embarcadero south of Bay Street, on the right when traveling north. The resin

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marker is mounted to a 3-D topographical map of Alcatraz Island. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Pier 33, San Francisco CA 94133, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Post Exchange & Officers' Club (here, next to this marker); The Dock (here, next to this marker); Military Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); Main Prison Building (here, next to this marker); Guardhouse & Sallyport Complex (here, next to this marker); Warden’s House and Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Dock (here, next to this marker); Staff Housing Area (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. There is a small braille plaque in the lower left corner of the marker.
Inset Images:
Fences, barbed wire, and a guard tower prevented escape from the industrial areas.
Many Alcatraz inmates worked in tailor shops, making gloves and military uniform items.
Interior of one of the Alcatraz industrial buildings.

Also see . . . Alcatraz Island. National Park Service: Island of Incarceration, Island of Freedom (Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Industrial Buildings Marker and Topographical Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 15, 2023

2. Industrial Buildings Marker and Topographical Map

Far right marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 207 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 17, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 2. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.