Welcome to the Rock

Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, Indian, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. Visitors to the island cannot only explore the remnants of the prison, but can also learn about the Indian occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications (the first U.S. fort on the coast), and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse. These structures and the island's many natural features - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare - are being preserved by the National Park Service which is working to make it accessible to visitors, preserve its buildings, protect its birds and other wildlife, and interpret its history.

ALCATRAZ IS NOT AN ISLAND to air on PBS

The occupation of Alcatraz Island by Indians of All Tribes changed the course of U.S. and Native American history. An award winning video/exhibit, WE HOLD THE ROCK was produced by the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and shows daily on Alcatraz Island. But many of the people associated with that project felt that a longer version that could reach a wider audience was needed. The result of their continuing work is ALCATRAZ IS NOT AN ISLAND. Winner of Best Documentary Feature Award at the 24th Annual American Indian Film Festival, and selected for screening at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, the first national showing of this film is scheduled for November 7th at 10p on PBS - CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR EXACT DATE AND TIME. (In San Francisco, it will air on November 5 at 10pm, and on November 9 at 6pm on KQED.) The following links will take you to additional sites related to Alcatraz and the occupation by Indians of All Tribes.

Professor Troy Johnson maintains a website on American Indian studies, including an extensive collection of photographs by Ilka Harman taken during the 19 month occupation of Alcatraz Island. Dr. Johnson has written extensively on the Occupation of Alcatraz Island, including this article on our website.

The complete text of "THE ALCATRAZ PROCLAMATION to the Great White Father and his People" by Indians of All Tribes is online as part of the THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT.

In 1895 nineteen Hopi were incarcerated on Alcatraz Island by the US Army for their resistance to government policies designed to destroy their religion and language. The National Park Service - Alcatraz Island,co-hosts a website with the Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation Office with several articles and photographs of this event in Hopi and Alcatraz history.

Please click on the buttons at the top of the page for specific sections of the Alcatraz web site, or on the photo of the island itself for a virtual tour and several slideshows.

The buttons (below right) will return you to the Alcatraz HOME page, The
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GOGA) home page, or the
National Park Service (NPS) home page.

http:/www.nps.gov/alcatraz/
goga_alcatraz@nps.gov
WebRanger Craig Glassner
Last updated October 26, 2002