U.S. Disciplinary Barracks
On March 21, 1907, Alcatraz was officially designated as the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison, and the Third and Fourth Companies of the U.S. Military Prison Guard were established there as a permanent garrison. Trained sentries would supervise all prisoner activities, and it was during this period that the rigid routine of Alcatraz would begin to emerge. By the turn of the century, the military prison on the island had grown so large that it obscured the lighthouse. Work on a new lighthouse began in 1909 and soon the tower would soar into the sky at a height of eighty-four feet. Electricity powered the light, as well as the fog sirens at the north and south ends of the island. The new keeper’s house was adjacent to the quarters of the Warden and prison doctor, located at the top of the main roadway.
The original lighthouse would be replaced in 1909 by an eighty-four-foot concrete tower, which loomed over the newer concrete prison. This photograph shows the new lighthouse under construction.
In 1909 Major Reuben Turner, a military construction engineer from the 29 thInfantry, designed and supervised an ambitious building project. He created a fully enclosed building that incorporated the main prison, hospital, kitchen, mess hall, library, shower rooms and auditorium – all encapsulated within a single cement superstructure. The top floors of the old Citadel were destroyed and a large new cellhouse was constructed, literally on top of the solid masonry structure of the old defensive barracks. The cellhouse was the largest steel-reinforced concrete structure in the world at the time of its construction, and it was designed to hold up to six hundred inmates. Each inmate could occupy a private cell, with a forced air ventilation system and cold running water. A convict labor force with a meager $250,000 budget would be tasked to build the entire cement complex, which would be completed in 1912. By the late 1920’s the three-story structure was nearly at full capacity.
The original prison blueprints by Major Reuben Turner, a military construction engineer from the 29th Infantry. Turner’s escape-proof design featured a fully enclosed building that incorporated the main prison, hospital, kitchen, mess hall, library, shower rooms and auditorium – all encapsulated within a single steel-reinforced cement superstructure.
Construction photographs of the main prison taken in roughly 1909-1910.
A photograph showing the original D Block during the final construction phase in March of 1911. Note the dirt floor prior to cementing, the flat steel bars, and the group of open swing-out doors on the second tier.
The Alcatraz Military Prison cellhouse was completed in 1912. This was the largest steel-reinforced concrete structure in the world at the time of its construction, and it was designed to house six hundred inmates. The new military super-prison opened on February 6, 1912.
The main corridor of Alcatraz, known as “Broadway.” This 1912 photograph looks toward the east end of the cellhouse. The cell door lock mechanisms were controlled by simple swing arm levers (seen on the left). Also note the absence of the Gun Gallery, as compared to later photographs from the Federal prison period.
The area which would later be known as “Michigan Avenue,” in 1912.
A military prison sentry patrolling A Block in 1932.
A view of the ramps leading to the prison auditorium and administration wing. These ramps and spiral staircases were removed from the refurbished cellblocks in 1934.
A view of A Block as it appears today. Also visible is the entrance to the basement or “dungeon” cells as prisoners referred to them.
A modern view of the flat steel bars from the military era. Note the primitive lock bar mechanism.
An early photograph of the new Mess Hall during the military period.
Alcatraz was the Army's first long-term prison, and it was beginning to build its reputation as a tough detention facility by exposing the inmates to severe and harsh confinement conditions and iron-handed discipline. The prisoners were divided into three classes based on their conduct and the crimes they had committed, and each class held distinct levels of privilege. The system was described in a manual of Alcatraz Rules and Regulationsfrom 1914:
Classification of Prisoners:
General Prisoners will be received in first class with exceptions made by the Commandant only. Third class men will be promoted to second-class and second-class men to first class after two and one half months excellent conduct respectively. Promotions, paroles, and reductions will be made by the Commandant only. Promotion Order will be issued on the 15 thof each month. Any first class prisoner may be paroled (under 943 A.R.) after serving half of his sentence.... Class will be designated by a cloth badge 2 1/ 2inches by 1/ 2inch, white, red, and yellow for first, second and third class respectively, on a brown cloth patch 3 1/ 2by 1 1/ 2inches which will be sewed on a sleeve of right arm above cuff. Paroled prisoners will be designated by a white triangular cloth badge 1 1/ 2inches to a side which will be sewed on the sleeve directly above the class badge.
The quarters, mess tables and benches in the Assembly Room of disciples will be separated from those of other general prisoners by an aisle. There will be no correspondence between such prisoners. Similarly the Quarters and Mess tables of enlisted prisoners will be separated from all general prisoners by an aisle.
Privileges:
Third class prisoners will enjoy the letter and tobacco privilege only. Segregated prisoners and 2 ndclass prisoners will enjoy letter and tobacco privileges in addition the library privilege once a week and entertainment privilege once a week, by detachment, as segregated. The second-class men making a separate detachment. First class prisoners will in addition enjoy the privilege of closed but unlocked door to individual quarters, between Reveille and Tattoo... The disciples will in addition have the privilege of open doors from Reveille to Tattoo, talking in quarters and visiting in day room.