Fortress Alcatraz

by Arturo John Martini

Before becoming known worldwide as the notorious penitentiary and, more recently, a famous tourist attraction, the little island of Alcatraz in the middle of San Francisco Bay was controlled by the U.S. Army for nearly 90 years. This barren, guano-covered island surrounded by treacherous currents was ideally located to serve its dual purposes as military defense post and prison. In FORTRESS ALCATRAZ, San Francisco historian John Arturo Martini explains the fascinating history of this landmark, from its discovery and seizure to its role during wartime; its tenure as a maximum security federal prison; and finally to its present-day status as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started out giving this book 4 stars as a history book just because it's a guide book and not a "proper" history book. But as I thought about it, I couldn't think of any way to improve it, given its purpose. The author, John Arturo Martini, grew up in the shadow of Alcatraz and later joined the National Park Service and was stationed on the Rock as a tour guide. His detailed knowledge of the place and its past are intimate and first-hand. His research skills are excellent, as evidenced by some of the mid-19th Century photos he unearthed and published here for the first time.

So with a well-organized outline, copious photos, maps, and illustrations, and a tightly written narrative liberally laced with personal anecdotes Martini unearthed in various memoirs and interviews, it would be difficult to improve this book. It traces the history and various uses of Alcatraz, from its initial survey in 1847, through its tenure as a fortress guarding US possessions on the West Coast which evolved into its becoming a military prison, to its natural transformation into a civilian prison holding the likes of such mid-20th Century criminals as Al "Scarface" Capone. There's a final chapter that tells about Alcatraz' decay after the prison was shut down, and its resurrection under the auspices of the Park Service as a popular tourist attraction.

I had no real interest in Alcatraz before I read this book, save for a mild curiosity about its early days and its part in the Civil War. Now that I've read the book, however, I find myself wanting to travel there and experience the place for myself. If I do, I'll have Martini's book with me to guide and interpret my visit.