2010 West Coast Civil War Conference

[gary]

will be held on Alcatraz Island. Topics haven't been selected yet. I just learned that the SF Civil War Round Table and the Friends of CW Alcatraz will host this event.

Besides Alcatraz, Fort Point is worth visiting and you'll get an idea of what Fort Sumter was like before the boys in gray and then blue reduced it to a pile o' rubble.

[samgrant]

What connection is there between Alcatraz and the Civil War?

[gary]

Alcatraz was a fort for most of its career. Its existence as a prison was only brief (29 years). During the American Civil War, numerous guns were placed on Alcatraz and along with Fort Point, were key to San Francisco's defenses (remember, there really wasn't anything else worth taking once you entered San Francisco Bay). Presently, there are still Civil War structures beneath the prison including magazines and sealed up gunports. There's hope to rebuild the drawbridge too by the Friends of Civil War Alcatraz.

[Borderruffian]

It was the fortress for the defense of SF Bay and manned by Union Artillery batteries. Also served as a Military Stockade for that Dept.

[samgrant]

[quote=gary] Presently, there are still Civil War structures beneath the prison including magazines and sealed up gunports. quote]

So that's how Clint Eastwood escaped!

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