Alcatraz Island Light, Lighthouse on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, US
Alcatraz Island Light is a white concrete tower standing on the highest point of the island with an octagonal design, a balcony, and a lantern room at the top. The structure was engineered so its beam could shine out over the prison facilities below.
The original structure was established in 1854 as the first lighthouse on the West Coast. A new, taller tower was constructed in 1909 to project light over the newly built prison complex on the island.
The lighthouse represents a crucial period of maritime development during the California Gold Rush, when safe navigation became essential for increasing vessel traffic.
The tower is accessible via scheduled ferry service from San Francisco to Alcatraz Island National Park, where the National Park Service manages the automated operation. Visitors should expect windy conditions on the island and remember that the light remains active for maritime use.
The light remained operational during the prison years and guards assisted in operating the fog signals based on weather conditions. This daily collaboration between lighthouse keepers and prison staff was an unusual feature of the island operation.
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