Little Alcatraz Little Alcatraz Little Alcatraz is a small rock in San Francisco Bay roughly off the Model Industries Building off northwest coast of Alcatraz Island. Due to its proximity to the island it is known by this name, but it was formerly known as Paul Pry Rock due to the steamer "Paul Pry" striking it on December 22, 1862 with some 150 men on board. On January 14, 1868, the 700 ton British ship, "Oliver Cutts", struck the rock and sank. Since it is submerged at high tides, Little Alcatraz is still routinely struck by small pleasure boats. The rock is
Alcatraz Island 1906 San Francisco earthquake, civilian prisoners were transferred to Alcatraz for safe confinement. On March 21, 1907, Alcatraz was officially designated as the Western U.S. Military Prison, later Pacific Branch, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, 1915. In 1909 construction began on the huge concrete main cell block, designed by Major Reuben Turner, which remains the island's dominant feature. It was completed in 1912. To accommodate the new cell block, the Citadel, a three-story barracks, was demolished down to the first floor, which was actually below ground level. The building had been constructed in an excavated pit (creating a dry "moat") to enhance