Alcatraz Island the hands of Confederate sympathizers. Alcatraz, built as a "heavily fortified military site on the West Coast", formed a "triangle of defense" along with Fort Point and Lime Point, and ensured security to the bay. The island was also the site of the first operational lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States. Alcatraz never fired its guns offensively, though during the war it was used to imprison Confederate sympathizers and privateers on the west coast. Because of its isolation from the outside by the cold, strong, hazardous currents of the waters of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was used
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