With chains on your hands and feet, you face the ground and shuffle out of the island ferry, the others following behind you. close. You look up to see the substantial structure in front of which a correctional officer is standing. You lower your head and continue walking. The correctional officer flashes a smile you can't see, but you can hear his simple but chilling words: "Welcome home." Known to be cold and unforgiving, miles from the mainland, on a 22-acre rock massif, sits a prison where America's most uncontrollable prisoners were controlled by strict daily routines and unfriendly punishments… DiscoveryBefore Alcatraz used by Americans for various purposes, it was discovered in 1775 by Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Spanish explorer whose Viceroy Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua sent to explore the San Francisco Bay region by sea while Another group of settlers and soldiers explored the region by land. This was all part of the Viceroy's expedition for Spanish colonization in the San Francisco Bay area. On the San Carlos, a ship captained by de Ayala encountered a 22-acre rocky island. He mapped and named this island La Isla de los Alcatraces [meaning pelican or strange bird] because of the group of pelicans that hovered above it. Although before Ayala, members of the Ohlone tribe may have visited the island to collect food like eggs and fish. . However, other tribes may have avoided the island altogether because they believed it contained evil spirits. p...... middle of paper ......view of the Golden Gate Bridge was blocked during construction of the prison, "[the] beacon became obsolete" (history.com). A new, taller lighthouse was replaced in 1909. OperationWith the new prison, the U.S. Army ran a rather mild facility with minimal security. “Prisoners spent their days working and learning…Many prisoners worked as gardeners while a few were employed as babysitters for the children of the prison guards (Mahaney, Erin. History and Facts about Alcatraz. About.com ). Closing The Great Depression of the 1930s The already high expenses required to operate military barracks nearly doubled. Current prisoners have been transferred to other prisons in Kansas and New Jersey. In 1933, the army deserted the prison. Alcatraz will remain a prison for over 100 years, but just under different control… Federal Penitentiary