Alcatraz Morgue, Military morgue at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, United States
The Alcatraz Morgue is a small structure on the prison island that contains three body vaults and an examination table inside. The space is secured by a mint green steel door with a padlock, and a grated skylight above allows natural light to enter the room.
The building was constructed in 1910 by the U.S. military and marks the entrance to a former tunnel that soldiers had used since 1870 to cross the island. This connection shows how the structure fit into the larger military infrastructure that developed on the island over time.
The morgue represents the Mission Revival architectural style and maintains records of storing just one prisoner overnight during the federal penitentiary period.
The structure sits between the Water Tower and Dining Hall on the northwestern side of the island, below the Recreation Yard. Reaching it requires navigating through the prison grounds, so visitors should take time to orient themselves with the overall layout of the facility.
The examination table inside has deteriorated over the years and developed a covering of green moss, reflecting the long passage of time without maintenance. This visible layer tells the story of the building's abandonment after the prison closed.
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