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

Staff Housing Area

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado

1. Staff Housing Area Marker

Inscription. Most of the penitentiary staff, along with their wives and children, lived on Alcatraz. Living quarters included an aging army barracks overlooking the dock, small cottages, and modern apartment houses built in 1940 with spectacular views of the Golden Gate. At the very tip of the island was a duplex occupied by two of the most important people on the island: the associate warden and the captain of the correctional staff. During the 1950s, an average of 75 families lived on the island at any one time. Dozens of children grew up on Alcatraz, and were ferried each day to school in San Francisco. Wives and off-duty guards took the shuttle boat to the city for shopping trips and social events.

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[#9-Staff Housing Area]

(Marker Number 9.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 37° 48.388′ N, 122° 24.261′ 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 marker

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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: Barracks/Apartments (here, next to this marker); Warden’s House and Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); The Dock (here, next to this marker); Guardhouse & Sallyport Complex (here, next to this marker); Main Prison Building (here, next to this marker); The Post Exchange & Officers' Club (here, next to this marker); Military Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Dock (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 on the lower left corner of the marker.
Inset Images:
Children of U.S. Army officers, circa 1925.
Families with children lived in a fenced-off area at the southern end of Alcatraz.
The vast concrete parade ground served as a playground for Alcatraz children.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Families

Also see . . .
1. The Children That Grew Up on Alcatraz Had a More Fun Childhood Than You Might Imagine.

"Over
Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 15, 2023

2. Topographical Map and Marker
Marker on the far right facing away from the camera.
100 children were living on the island, and many of them grew up together from the time they were infants. There were even babies born there, with their birth certificate saying “Alcatraz Island” as their place of birth."

(Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

2. Alcatraz - Quick Facts.

"The primary living areas for families were Building #64, three apartment buildings, one large duplex, and four large wooden houses for senior officers. Families enjoyed their own bowling alley, small convenience store, and soda fountain shop for the younger island residents."

(Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 767 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.