Captured in Design: Alcatraz

This sleek bedroom has a wall of windows for admiring the view of the bay and Alcatraz. This bed sure looks more luxurious than a prison cot.

The first important structure built on Alcatraz was the lighthouse, in the mid-1800s. This was the first lighthouse built on the American West Coast. In 1850 it became a military fort, and later a military prison. It housed prisoners and Southern sympathizers during the Civil War, and it went on to house Spanish-American war prisoners, and conscientious objectors to World War I.

Side Note: Kudos to this photographer for framing the cruise ship and Alcatraz with the window; they look like they are about the same size in this shot. Where would you rather be? Personally, for me it's kind of a toss up.

Alcatraz became a federal prison in 1934, and remained one until 1963. Many of the prisoners landed on The Rock because they had caused problems in other prisons. Quite a few famous gangsters, including Al Capone and Whitey Bulger, did stints on The Rock. Lucky for Whitey, it's no longer a prison.

In 1972, the island became a national recreation area, and it went on to become a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. To find out how to visit, check out The National Park Service's Alcatraz page.

I'm sure those imprisoned on the island dreamed of a long soak in a hot bath, which makes the view from this spa-like bathroom a bit ironic.

This vast outdoor space has enviable views to the island and bay. I wonder if these people ever have Alcatraz-themed parties?

There is a long tradition of gardening on Alcatraz. Army members posted there planted gardens in spite of the inhospitable conditions, and inmates continued this work. The gardens provided a healing element on the island, which saw its share of human suffering. Inmates became very involved in maintaining the gardens, designing them, maintaining them, and even ordering bulbs.