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Spanish explorer Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala maps San Francisco Bay and names the island "de los Alcatraces"
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California becomes U.S property at the end of the Mexican-American War. Gold is discovered along the American River and the Gold Rush begins
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A joint Army and Navy commission recommends a Triangle of Defense to guard San Francisco Bay. President Fillmore signs a Executive Order reserving lands around San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, for "public purposes."
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The Alcatraz lighthouse begins service as the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast
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Capt. Joseph Stewart and 86 men of Company H, Third U.S Artillery take command of Alcatraz
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Fort Sumter is attacked by Confederates and the Civil War begins. Col. Johnston prepares San Francisco defenses, then resigns to serve the Confederacy
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J.M Chapman, a Confederate privateer ship, is seized and its crew is arrested and imprisoned on Alcatraz
Capt. William Winder authorizes Alcatraz to fire a blank shot at HMS Sutlej
Lower prison, a temporary wooden structure is built. Soon other prison structures are added on to it. -
Capt. Winder authorizes Bradley and Bulofson to photograph Alcatraz and sell prints, which are later confiscated by the War Department
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Alcatraz troops are sent to San Francisco to preserve peace and prevent rioting after President Lincoln's assassination. Alcatraz cannons fire the official mourning for the dead president
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Major George Mendell designs plans for earthwork defenses on Alcatraz
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Centennial Great Sham Battle proves Alcatraz are no longer adequate.
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Nineteen members of the Hopi Tribe are imprisoned on Alcatraz for resisting the policy of forced education of their children and land alotment programs contrary to their beliefs
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Spanish-American War results in prison overcrowding at Alcatraz
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Upper prison (Alcatraz's second name) is built on the Parade Ground
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Alcatraz is designated as the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison".
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The new cell house (Alcatraz's third prison which still stands today), built with convict labor, is completed and prisoners move in
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Alcatraz is renamed the "United States, Disciplinary Barracks".
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Alcatraz is transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 32 of the worst military prisoners remain on the island in civilian custody