Blogpost No. 9: Museum Collection

As a teen or child, didn't you find it  boring going to museums? Sometimes you would even complain and say: "Mom, let's just go to the mall!  Going to the museum is boring, there's nothing amusing to see.  But if one understands the history of a place, museum visits can be very interesting.  Alcatraz tour is one example which includes a visit to the Alcatraz museum .  I haven't really been on an Alcatraz tour but this research just take me on a museum like tour.  If given a chance I would love to do the tour myself.  I'm sure anybody who visit will find their self amused by the artifacts as displayed  asking oneself, why is this artifact was chosen among many, what is the significance and who is the owner  ? Then you wonder, what if I am actually there ? That would be so awesome! 

Alcatraz Island is now a museum, like I have mentioned in the other blog post, the island is being visited by over 1.4 million people every year. This island is definitely not going to bore you. 

I found this article entitled "Museum Collection at Alcatraz Island" in nps.gov. In this article, it shows some pictures of artifacts used back when the prison was still operating. It also explains what they are used for and why. 

According to the author of Alcatraz Island. "Collections include objects made by notorious inmates, historic photographs and documents, escape materials and inmate artwork; items used by officers including correctional materials when Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary from 1934-1963; military prison period materials from 1859-1934; and theAmerican Indian occupation of 1969 -1971." 

I really like this article because not only they provide us pictures of the artifacts, but they also explain everything about it. For those unfortunate enough not to be able to visit the island, this article will give you an idea, how the place looks like. Seeing the pictures in your screen, it just makes you want to touch it or see it in real life. It's really nice of the government to preserve all artifacts from the prison. These artifacts are from centuries ago, and they still exist in the island. 



Another article of interest is entitled "Alcatraz Historic Preservation Projects" in nps.gov. The articles talks about the harsh environment at Alcatraz Island and how hard it is to preserve historic structures. It also gives a list of some recent, current and future projects. 

According to the author of Alcatraz Island. "Between 2011 and 2013, we are spending significant resources to make improvements to both the visitor experience and also to preserve the many historic buildings on the island." 


I really like this article because it shows that the government of the United States of America is spending time to keep the island alive. They make sure that the historic buildings and artifacts stay as they were.  They are really preserving history.  Thanks to the National Park Service for preserving everything the island has, now people from all over the world can go and visit Alcatraz Island and feel the inescapable experience !.  

Blogpost No. 8: Alcatraz Facts

Whether you are a native of San Francisco or just a tourist, a trip to the famous Alcatraz Island should be on your to-do-list. Most people know that Alcatraz was once a world-famous federal penitentiary, but  the island's history before and after the penitentiary is less well known. 

I found an article entitled "Alcatraz Facts & Mysteries You May Not Know" in citypass.com .  In this article, it shows interesting facts about the island that are not usually mentioned in other website such as the lighthouse, the Great San Francisco Earthquake, the average stay, the female correctional officer and so forth.

According to the author , Melissa Davidson. as if speaking to an Alcatraz prisoner ,  “You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege.” 

After reading this article, I'm kind of shocked that I haven't read these facts anywhere else. I've read a lot of articles about Alcatraz Island, and this is the first time I'm learning about these facts. It's very interesting, especially about the the families who lived there and rarely locked their doors. I mean, if I were them, I would probably lock all the doors and windows every time just to be safe. One can't really know when prisoners try to escape and you find them knocking on your door. So I find it quite amusing that people who lived next to the prison don't usually lock their doors, while people in the city and far away from the prison do.

One article I came across with entitled "Mysteries Unwrapped" in pricegrabber talks about a book written about Alcatraz Island by Susan Sloate. 

According to the author, Susan Sloate. "With this book, young readers will go back to the island’s humble beginnings and follow its transformations through the years. They’ll meet the legendary Birdman and other notorious prisoners, learn about some famous �great escapes,” and more"

I for one find it interesting how there were movies created about the island, and now a book about it too, covering almost everything we need to know about Alcatraz Island. This just proves that Alcatraz Islnd is not just some normal prison. It has such an amazing history that it became one of the most visited tourist spot with reported 1.4 billion people visiting the island every year.