Renovation reveals secrets of Alcatraz’s pre-prison past
Before Alcatraz was what park historian Stephen Haller calls “the most famous prison in the world,” it was a fortress, bristling with guns and complete with a moat, a drawbridge and a sally port, like an ancient castle.
On Wednesday, the island’s newly refurbished old guardhouse and sally port entrance to the complex were unveiled with a flourish by Golden Gate National Recreation Area general superintendent Chris Lehnertz.
The sally port, which resembles a brick tunnel and was staffed by armed guards for more than a century, “is historic and important,” Lehnertz said.
Most visitors today come to see Al Capone’s cell and hear stories about famous inmates and escape attempts, but the island’s military past is also important.
Fort Sumter is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
The Army occupied the island for more than 75 years, as a fortress and then as a military prison — a disciplinary barracks was the term.
The sally port was the entrance to a citadel and was guarded by cannon and smaller rifle gun ports.
If an enemy had somehow landed on the island, that enemy would have to cross a dry moat and either batter down the walls or storm them in a frontal assault.
Just down a steep flight of stairs from the sally port entrance is a medium-sized room — the guardroom, where the first military prisoners were held.
In the Civil War days, it housed civilian prisoners accused of such offenses as flying the Confederate flag, denouncing the military, refusing to take a loyalty oath to the United States or, Haller said, “rejoicing at the assassination of the president.”
Later, supervising ranger Marcus Koenen led a rare tour “under the scenes,” to the citadel underneath the main prison cell block.
The citadel and the dungeon areas are laced with steel bracing to hold up the buildings on top of the island.
The sally port restoration, which included seismic work, cost $3,087,959 exactly, or $1 under budget, said project manager David Dusterhoff.