ALCATRAZ HISTORY - Civil War Days 1861-1865
©2002 RJ BestALCATRAZ HISTORY
CIVIL WAR DAYS
The military began sending the first Civil War prisoners to the
naturally isolated island in 1861, the year in which the fort was
designated as the official U.S. Army prison for the western states
and territories. Because it was the only completed fort in the bay,
Alcatraz played a vital role in protecting San Francisco from Confederate
raiders.
Military Function
Early in the war ten thousand rifles were moved to Alcatraz from
the State armory so they wouldn't be available to southern sympathizers.
The crew of a Confederate privateer was among the island's first
prisoners.
As the war progressed, Alcatraz often served its country well militarily.
In 1863, a suspicious clipper schooner was towed to Alcatraz when
inspectors from the USS CYANE found 15 armed men and unmanifested
cannon and ammunition hidden below her decks. The crew was questioned
in separate cells on Alcatraz, where it was learned that the schooner
was to take on other military stores elsewhere, then to act as a
Confederate privateer against the coastal ships.
Alcatraz took its responsibility seriously for protecting the bay
area. In October 1863, when a Revenue Service cutter had to leave
her station to help a wrecked Russian ship, Captain William A. Winder
(commander at Alcatraz) was asked to challenge all arriving ships
at the Golden Gate before they entered port while the cutter was
busy. Winder did not recognize the colors of an armed ship towed
by two small boats, headed in the direction of the Raccoon Straits,
so he fired a blank charge to attract the boat's attention. When
that failed, he fired broadside in an attempt to salute the ship,
but by the time the boat began its 21-gun answer, Fort Point commenced
firing, thinking its assistance was needed against the approaching
ship. The letter exchange that followed shortly thereafter identified
the boat as Her Majesty's Ship SUTLEJ, the flagship of Rear Admiral
John Kingcome. The departmental commander suggested only a mild
reproof to Alcatraz because had the situation been a real security
threat, Captain Winder's actions would have been commended.
In a separate incident in 1864, a plan to capture the California
mail steamers was foiled when the plotters were arrested on arrival
in San Francisco. As a result, all subsequent steamer passengers
had to be searched for concealed weapons and all ship officers had
to be armed to discourage attempts to commandeer the vessels.
Political Prison
The island became a detention camp for political prisoners during
the Civil War.
Confederate sympathizers were imprisoned there, put to breaking
rocks and grading paths and roads. These prisoners weren't kept
at Alcatraz for very long, though – after the initial excitement
of the war died down, they were released.
In the unsettled days following Lincoln's assassination, rumors
of election riots placed the entire Alcatraz garrison on frequent
alert. In fact, in 1865, much of the force was shifted to San Francisco
to keep order. The bay area's official half-hourly gun salute on
the day of Lincoln's funeral was fired by the batteries of Alcatraz.
http://www.militarymuseum.org/AlcatrazCitadel.html -
"California Military Museum"– Great photos
Copyright TourCorp Inc. 2003-08 - All Rights Reserved
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Notice: Alcatraz Ferry departs from Pier 33.
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Our great Combo Tours do include the Ferry Ride to Alcatraz and the Audio
Tour of the prison cell house. Reserve online today before you arrive
in the city. Remember: The ferry tickets to Alcatraz sell out weeks
in advance. There are a limited amount of tickets per day. Make sure
you get to see "The Rock" on your trip to San
Francisco. We DO NOT sell individual Alcatraz ferry tickets.
Former federal prison Alcatraz has become a must see activity for
visitors to the Bay Area.
Use our one stop tour shopping to plan your vacation! You will not be
charged a markup on the Alcatraz Tickets PLUS eliminate Wharf parking fees with a
hotel pick up for most of our motor coach tours. Plan your entire day here.
BOOK EARLY! Alcatraz tours are often sold out over a week in advance!
Tour includes ferry cruise to the infamous and notorious former federal prison.
Also included is an Award-winning audio headset tour in the prison Cell House.
No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men who actually lived it.
The award-winning Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour brings history alive
through the actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates
who lived on the island during the infamous Federal Penitentiary era.
Hear both sides of life in the island prison including such famous events as escape attempts,
"The Battle of '46", food riots, and surviving solitary confinement.
The new Cellhouse Audio Tour is an expanded version of the original award-winning tour
and includes new stories, new narrators, and explores new areas of the Cellhouse.
The tour is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese Dutch and Mandarin.
Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most popular visitor attractions and its
tours frequently sell out a week or more in advance. Tickets are rarely
available at the Box Office for same-day sailings. The Alcatraz Ferry
departs daily from Pier 33 Fisherman's Wharf in San
Francisco. "TourCorp" is Tour & Sightseeing Company and
we only offer Alcatraz Ferry Tickets as a planning convenience for our
clients. We do not mark up or add any service fees to the
cost of the Alcatraz Tickets. Due to high demand and limited tickets
for the Alcatraz ferry/audio tour- both your Sightseeing Tour and Ferry
reservations are pending until you receive a final confirmation e-mail from us.
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ALCATRAZ TICKET AVAILABILITY:
Remember: Reserve weekend Alcatraz tickets at least 10-14 days in advance. Maximum 8 tickets per order.
BOOK ALCATRAZ EARLY TO GET BEST DEPARTURE TIMES
Very limited tickets are available for August and September weekends. All Summer weekend cruises will sell out very early. Book Now to get best departure times!
Alcatraz Cruises depart from PIER 33.
Please indicate on the comments section of the order form if you want your Alcatraz tickets on a later or earlier day or a specific time.
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| 1-Day Combo Boat Cruise Packages |
Golden Gate Bay Cruise plus Alcatraz as a 2nd reservation
BAY CRUISE: The one hour, headset narrated San Francisco Bay Cruise takes you out to the Golden Gate Bridge from Fisherman's Wharf. En route you will pass Fort Mason, the Marina District and the Presidio National Park. Cruise travels under the Golden Gate Bridge past Angel Island and around Alcatraz. Narrated in 8 languages.
Duration: Combo Tour - 1 hour Bay Cruise
Alcatraz - 2-3 hours on same day.
Departure Dates & Times: Golden Gate Bay Cruise Departures start at 10:00 AM
Alcatraz Ferry time will be confirmed based on availability.
Departs from: Red and White Fleet Bay Cruise: Pier 43 1/2 Alcatraz Ferry: Pier 33
For a Combo order you will pay the Tour/Cruise Rates listed below
PLUS a second charge for the Day Alcatraz Ferry and Audio Tour:
$26.00 for Adult/Junior (12-61), $24.50 for Seniors (62+) and $16.00 for Children (5-11)
Tour/Cruise Price from:
$16.00 - $22.00 (USD)
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California Sunset Cruise plus Alcatraz as a 2nd reservation
SUNSET CRUISE: The California Sunset Cruise departs from Fisherman's Wharf. View the Marina, Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, Bay Bridge and Downtown San Francisco Skyline lit up with splendor. Enjoy amazing sunsets and appetizers aboard this relaxed 2 hour cruise.
Duration: Combo Tour - 2 Hour Sunset Cruise
Alcatraz 2-3 Hours on same day
Departure Dates & Times: Sunset Cruise: April through October
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Evenings
Alcatraz Ferry time will be confirmed based on availability.
Departs from: Red and White Fleet Sunset Cruise: Pier 43 1/2 Alcatraz Ferry: Pier 33
For a Combo order you will pay the Tour/Cruise Rates listed below
PLUS a second charge for the Day Alcatraz Ferry and Audio Tour:
$26.00 for Adult/Junior (12-61), $24.50 for Seniors (62+) and $16.00 for Children (5-11)
Tour/Cruise Price from:
$34.00 - $48.00 (USD)
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