Monday, 17 July 2023 07:09

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island

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Parade ground originally constructed fortification of civil war era serves as a wildlife bird sanctuary with historic ties even to the military bygone goldrush era

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island

Link Location Gps  ← Find Best directions

 Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252967,-122.4212955

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island

RHGH+4F8 Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA, USA

 

 

 

1899 Upper Prison (Alcatraz's third prison) was built on the Parade Ground.

 

 

 

Parade ground seen the most military personnel applications of the history on alcatraz island leaves many unaware

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb1Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb2Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb3

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4209596  /  Gps Link -122.4218793  /  Gps Link -122.420985

Gps Coordinates  /  37.825825,-122.4209596  /  37.8257965,-122.4218793  /  37.825852,-122.420985

 

1849 onset of the California Gold Rush the following year, the U.S. Army began studying the suitability of Alcatraz Island for the positioning of coastal batteries to protect the approaches to San Francisco Bay.

 

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb4Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb5Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb6

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4210082  /  Gps Link -122.4210319  /  Gps Link -122.4210576

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8258776,-122.4210082  /  37.8259006,-122.4210319  /  37.8259233,-122.4210576

Alcatraz Parade Ground Promenade is a large concrete open area on the south end of Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, USA.

 

 

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb7Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb8Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb9

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.421082  /  Gps Link -122.4211087  /  Gps Link -000.000

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8259447,-122.421082  /  37.8259682,-122.4211087  /  37.8259918,-122.4211378

During the Civil War-era, rapid changes in artillery and fortification were generated.

 

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb10Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb11Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb12

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4211648  /  Gps Link -122.4211886  /  Gps Link -122.4212073

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8260142,-122.4211648  /  37.8260361,-122.4211886  /  37.8260561,-122.4212073

 

Alcatraz's defenses were obsolete by the postwar years.

 

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb13Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb14Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb15

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4212248  /  Gps Link -122.4212456  /  Gps Link -122.4212709

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8260757,-122.4212248  /  37.8260994,-122.4212456  /  37.8261246,-122.4212709

 

Modernization efforts, including an ambitious plan to level the entire island and construct shell-proof underground magazines and tunnels, were undertaken.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb16Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb17Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb18

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4212974  /  Gps Link -122.4213209  /  Gps Link -122.4213408

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8261483,-122.4212974  /  37.8261715,-122.4213209  /  37.826196,-122.4213408

 

Between 1870 and 1876 but never completed (the so-called "parade ground" on the southern tip of the island represents the extent of the flattening effort).

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb19Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb20Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb21

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4213624  /  Gps Link -122.4213851  /  Gps Link -122.4214079

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8262171,-122.4213624  /  37.8262375,-122.4213851  /  37.8262572,-122.4214079

 

Instead, the army switched the focus of its plans for Alcatraz from coastal defense to detention, a task for which it was well suited because of its isolation.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb22Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb23Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb24

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4214287  /  Gps Link -122.4215075  /  Gps Link -122.4215159

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8262739,-122.4214287  /  37.8262655,-122.4215075  /  37.826243,-122.4215159

 

Parade Ground flatened due to those efforts now seems like a great future tourist spot to sit and eat a picnic however eating is only allowed in the designated area by the dock.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb25Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb26Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb27

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.421525  /  Gps Link -122.4215366  /  Gps Link -122.4215518

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8262177,-122.421525  /  37.8261936,-122.4215366  /  37.8261678,-122.4215518

 

The earliest recorded private owner of the island of Alcatraz was Julian Workman.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb28Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb29Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb30

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4215627  /  Gps Link -122.4215669  /  Gps Link -122.4215696

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8261403,-122.4215627  /  37.8261134,-122.4215669  /  37.8260861,-122.4215696

 

Julian Workman to whom it was given by Mexican governor Pio Pico in June 1846, with the understanding that Workman would build a lighthouse on it.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb31Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb32Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb33

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4215693  /  Gps Link -122.4215713  /  Gps Link -122.4215764

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8260602,-122.4215693  /  37.8260316,-122.4215713  /  37.826002,-122.4215764

 

Flattest part of Alcatraz being the parade ground had military interest with military applications.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb34Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb35Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb36

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4215868  /  Gps Link -122.4215897  /  Gps Link -122.4215906

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8259767,-122.4215868  /  37.8259508,-122.4215897  /  37.8259243,-122.4215906

 

Fremont bought the island for $5,000 in the name of the United States government from Francis Temple.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb37Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb38Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb39

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4215998  /  Gps Link -122.4216152  /  Gps Link -122.421635

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8258994,-122.4215998  /  37.8258775,-122.4216152  /  37.8258542,-122.421635

 

1850, President Millard Fillmore ordered that Alcatraz Island be set aside specifically as a United States military reservation.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb40Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb41Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb42

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4216573  /  Gps Link -122.4217026  /  Gps Link -122.4217381

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8258387,-122.4216573  /  37.8258265,-122.4217026  /  37.8258221,-122.4217381

 

1853, under the direction of Zealous B. Tower, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began fortifying the island, work which continued until 1858, when the initial version of Fort Alcatraz was complete.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb43Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb44Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb45

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4217744  /  Gps Link -122.4218085  /  Gps Link -122.4218413

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8258188,-122.4217744  /  37.8258144,-122.4218085  /  37.8258076,-122.4218413

 

Parade island's first garrison, numbering about 200 soldiers, arrived at the end of that year.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb46Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb47Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb48

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4218793  /  Gps Link -122.4219193  /  Gps Link -122.4219603

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8257965,-122.4218793  /  37.8257837,-122.4219193  /  37.8257753,-122.4219603

 

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, the island mounted 85 cannons old photographs of the cannon parade exist.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb49Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb50Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb51

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4219958  /  Gps Link -122.4220305  /  Gps Link -122.4220683

Gps Coordinates  /  37.825762,-122.4219958  /  37.8257498,-122.4220305  /  37.8257455,-122.4220683

 

Used for military purposes based upon the U.S. acquisition of California from Mexico following the Mexican - American War.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb52Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb53Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb54

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4221045  /  Gps Link -122.422135  /  Gps Link -122.4221605

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8257365,-122.4221045  /  37.8257223,-122.422135  /  37.8257023,-122.4221605

 

Fremont had expected a large compensation for his initiative in purchasing and securing Alcatraz Island for the U.S. government.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb55Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb56Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb57

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4221835  /  Gps Link -122.4222046  /  Gps Link -122.422222

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8256789,-122.4221835  /  37.8256546,-122.4222046  /  37.8256308,-122.422222

 

U.S. government later invalidated the sale and paid Fremont nothing.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb58Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb59Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb60

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.422231  /  Gps Link -122.4222372  /  Gps Link -122.4222345

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8256032,-122.422231  /  37.8255772,-122.4222372  /  37.8255541,-122.4222345

 

Fremont and his heirs sued for compensation during protracted but unsuccessful legal battles that extended into the 1890s.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb61Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb62Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb63

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4222106  /  Gps Link -122.422186  /  Gps Link -122.422159

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8255335,-122.4222106  /  37.8255133,-122.422186  /  37.8254956,-122.422159

 

The Parade Grounds are an open area on the south end of Alcatraz that host surprisingly few parades.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb64Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb65Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb66

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4221326  /  Gps Link -122.4221054  /  Gps Link -122.4220758

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8254792,-122.4221326  /  37.8254635,-122.4221054  /  37.8254472,-122.4220758

 

It's an excellent spot for a selfie with an awesome view of the skyline of San Francisco.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb67Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb68Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb69

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4220456  /  Gps Link -122.4220193  /  Gps Link -122.4219979

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8254326,-122.4220456  /  37.8254168,-122.4220193  /  37.8253978,-122.4219979

 

Turn around, and you have the lighthouse and warden's residence for a backdrop.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb70Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb71Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb72

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4219655  /  Gps Link -122.421934  /  Gps Link -122.4219022

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8253785,-122.4219655  /  37.8253593,-122.421934  /  37.8253408,-122.4219022

 

Originally built in the 1860s by the US military for drills and marching, the space later became housing for the correctional officers and their families as well as a playground for their children after the island became a penitentiary.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb73Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb74Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb75

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4218694  /  Gps Link -122.4218337  /  Gps Link -122.4217986

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8253232,-122.4218694  /  37.8253093,-122.4218337  /  37.8252952,-122.4217986

 

The Parade Grounds were also used for hosting special Officer's Club events.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb76Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb77Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb78

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4217647  /  Gps Link -122.4217308  /  Gps Link -122.4216947

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252816,-122.4217647  /  37.8252698,-122.4217308  /  37.825264,-122.4216947

 

The children living in the quarters on the Parade Ground were known to other children and their families on Alcatraz as "the topside kids" because they lived above those residing in Building 64 on the dock below.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb79Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb80Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb81

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4216579  /  Gps Link -122.4216196  /  Gps Link -122.4215814

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252583,-122.4216579  /  37.8252559,-122.4216196  /  37.8252553,-122.4215814

 

Today the grounds host annual sunrise ceremonies which celebrate Native American culture and commemorate the 2-year occupation by the Indians of All Tribes.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb82Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb83Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb84

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4215447  /  Gps Link -122.4215094  /  Gps Link -122.4214746

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252585,-122.4215447  /  37.8252625,-122.4215094  /  37.8252712,-122.4214746

 

The island ceased use as a jail in 1963 and the residential buildings and gardens which were added were razed to the ground by the General Services Administration in the 1970s, but the foundation marks can still be seen.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb85Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb86Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb87

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4214415  /  Gps Link -122.4214057  /  Gps Link -122.4213687

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252795,-122.4214415  /  37.8252869,-122.4214057  /  37.825286,-122.4213687

 

After the island became a Federal Penitentiary in 1934, the Parade Grounds was used as a playground, especially on weekends and holidays, and was used host special events, often organized by the Officer's Club.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb88Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb89Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb90

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4213326  /  Gps Link -122.4212612  /  Gps Link -122.4212263

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8252871,-122.4213326  /  37.8253092,-122.4212612  /  37.8253218,-122.4212263

 

The parade ground is the trailhead for the Alcatraz Agave Trail and is open when the birds are not nesting, from about mid October to mid January.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb91Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb92Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb93

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4211893  /  Gps Link -122.4211546  /  Gps Link -122.4211237

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8253355,-122.4211893  /  37.8253486,-122.4211546  /  37.8253635,-122.4211237

 

The parade grounds. Carved from the hillside during the late 19th century and covered with rubble since the government demolished guard housing in 1971.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb94Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb95Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb96

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.421094  /  Gps Link -122.4210618  /  Gps Link -122.4210316

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8253787,-122.421094  /  37.8253922,-122.4210618  /  37.8254069,-122.4210316

 

The area has become a habitat and breeding ground for black-crowned night herons, western gulls, slender salamanders, and deer mice.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb97Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb98Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb99

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4210014  /  Gps Link -122.4209731  /  Gps Link -122.4209471

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8254227,-122.4210014  /  37.8254408,-122.4209731  /  37.8254622,-122.4209471

 

The Agave Trail makes its way around the outskirts of the Parade Ground offering stunning views from the East Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb100Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb101Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb102

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4209195  /  Gps Link -122.4208956  /  Gps Link -122.4208712

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8254845,-122.4209195  /  37.8255077,-122.4208956  /  37.8255296,-122.4208712

 

The Agave Path, a trail named for its dense growth of agave. Located atop a shoreline bulkhead on the south side, it provides a nesting habitat for night herons.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb103Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb104Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb105

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4208494  /  Gps Link -122.4208276  /  Gps Link -122.4208081

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8255492,-122.4208494  /  37.8255688,-122.4208276  /  37.8255886,-122.4208081

 

Remember that seasonal weather and tidal closures of the path are currently in place.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb106Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb107Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb108

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4207902  /  Gps Link -122.4207841  /  Gps Link -122.4208037

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8256092,-122.4207902  /  37.8256303,-122.4207841  /  37.82565,-122.4208037

 

 As the nearby Building 64 aged and fell into disrepair, the operators of the prison funded several new residential blocks on the square.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb109Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb110Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb111

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4208254  /  Gps Link -122.420837  /  Gps Link -122.4208517

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8256701,-122.4208254  /  37.8256964,-122.420837  /  37.8257205,-122.4208517

 

Gardens were developed around them, and handball and weightlifting facilities developed for the employees and their families.

 

Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb112Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb113Alcatraz Parade Ground 2013 VR Alcatraz Island tmb114

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4208695  /  Gps Link -122.420887  /  Gps Link -000.000

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8257419,-122.4208695  /  37.8257613,-122.420887  /  37.8257842,-122.420911

 

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We left some touring brochures below let us know how you got along.

.

Freetoursbyfoot.com/alcatraz-tours/

.

Alcatrazislandtickets.com/Alcatraz-Island-Tours/

.

Thetourguy.com/travel-blog/usa/san-francisco/alcatraz/how-to-visit-alcatraz-island/

.

Alcatraztoursf.com/san-francisco/city-tour

 

Read 266 times Last modified on Monday, 17 July 2023 08:06
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