Alcatraz Island Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
Alcatraz Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse
in California
,
United States
, on Alcatraz Island
in the San Francisco Bay
, California
. It is the oldest light station on the U.S. West Coast
.
, and Humboldt Bay, and one at Cape Disappointment
in Washington State. The Alcatraz Lighthouse was completed in 1853. It was lit in 1854 from a fixed, third-order Fresnel lens. In 1902 it was transferred to the Cape St. Elias Lighthouse in Alaska and replaced by a revolving fourth-order Fresnel lens, producing a white flash every five seconds.
In 1909, the present cell house was built. Since the new structure would interfere with the operation of the lighthouse, a taller 84-foot, concrete tower was built south of the original lighthouse. The original lighthouse, which had been damaged during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, was eventually torn down. In 1963, the Alcatraz Lighthouse was automated by the United States Coast Guard
. In 1970 a fire destroyed the warden's house, the keepers' quarters and other buildings on the island. The only remaining building is the tall cement tower equipped with a modern beacon.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
,
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
in the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is the oldest light station on the U.S. West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
History
The Baltimore firm of Gibbons and Kelly was awarded the contract to build seven lighthouses in California, at Alcatraz Island, Fort Point, Point Piños, Point Loma, Farallon IslandFarallon Island Light
Farallon Island Light is a lighthouse on Southeast Farallon Island, California. One of the highest lights in California, it was constructed in 1855 to warn ships approaching San Francisco from the...
, and Humboldt Bay, and one at Cape Disappointment
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
The Cape Disappointment Light is a lighthouse on Cape Disappointment near the mouth of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.- History :...
in Washington State. The Alcatraz Lighthouse was completed in 1853. It was lit in 1854 from a fixed, third-order Fresnel lens. In 1902 it was transferred to the Cape St. Elias Lighthouse in Alaska and replaced by a revolving fourth-order Fresnel lens, producing a white flash every five seconds.
In 1909, the present cell house was built. Since the new structure would interfere with the operation of the lighthouse, a taller 84-foot, concrete tower was built south of the original lighthouse. The original lighthouse, which had been damaged during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, was eventually torn down. In 1963, the Alcatraz Lighthouse was automated by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. In 1970 a fire destroyed the warden's house, the keepers' quarters and other buildings on the island. The only remaining building is the tall cement tower equipped with a modern beacon.
Historical information from Coast Guard web site
The name of this lighthouse is derived from "alcatraces" the Spanish word for pelican. However, this island is best known as the home of Al Capone and other notorious criminals. A federal penitentiary is also on the island. This light is the oldest major navigational light on the West Coast. For over 50 years, the lighthouse survived prison breakouts, riots and burning.- 1906: The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 severely damaged the original lighthouse.
- 1963: The light was automated in 1963.
- 2000: The lighthouse is now a museum and can be toured.