Alcatraz Citadel island and replaced the lower prison, with a capacity of 307 inmates. Alcatraz was renamed as the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison” in 1907, and as the importance of the Island citadel became less and less obvious due to modernization of the naval facilities, infantry soldiers were shifted and prison guards brought in their place. It developed a reputation for its brutal methods of torturing prisoners, placing prisoners in pitch black cells for up two weeks. Alcatraz was barely affected by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake which devastated the city, and the prison population dramatically increased as prisoners were temporarily
Alcatraz Island in popular culture a makeshift task force to track down the inmates and prevent them from committing further crimes while also determining the reasons for their return. Alcatraz's isolated and fortified image has meant that it has been used as a location for fictional hostage scenarios in various instances. A number of books were written or co-authored by former Alcatraz prisoners, e.g.: "Island in the Sun", the band's debut single from 1983, makes multiple lyrical references to Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz Island in popular culture Alcatraz Island has appeared many times in popular culture. Its appeal as a picturesque film setting derives from its