334. Alcatraz Island. Albumen stereofview. San Francisco: N.p., dated 28 January 1897. Titled in negative. Faint inscription "San Francisco" to mount recto lower margin. On orange cardstock mount with "M.F. McNeil" stamp to verso alongside ink-inscribed date. 

A fine view of Alcatraz Island showing the waterfront dock and several buildings atop the rocky outcrops. 

Though most famous for its inmates of the early 20th century, Alcatraz was used by the U.S. Government as early as 1859 to hold prisoners. By the late 1860s, it had several prison buildings and was officially designated as a long-term detention facility for military prisoners. This image, taken in 1897, shows the island on the eve of the Spanish-American War, which saw the prison population explode from 26 to over 450. 

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