The Alcatraz Island of San Francisco
Alcatraz Island was given to Julian Workman by the Pio Pico, a Mexican governor, in 1846, for building a lighthouse. John Fremont, California's Military Governor, bought the island from Workman that same year. Four years later, the island was designated a military base by President Millard Fillmore.
Alcatraz Fortress was built by 1858 and was occupied by military personnel that same year. It first detained Civil War prisoners in 1861. It was bought by the US Department of Justice in October, 1933 and designated a federal prison in 1934.
It's infamous for housing several famous prisoners during WWII including Al Capone and Robert Shroud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island
http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm
http://www.sftravel.com/alcatraz_island.htm
