When I visited San Francisco in the mid-1990s, one of the few touristy things I did was visit Alcatraz, donning headphones and listening to old inmates talk about the place. Of course, the place is so much more than just an old prison, and a visit makes that clear, even as the prison buildings and spaces define much of the experience. So I was looking forward to receiving this history of the island, its architecture, landscape, and nature. Written by Donald MacDonald and Ira Nadel and illustrated by MacDonald, the book is hardly a comprehensive history, but it is not meant to be an academic study of the well-known island. At first I thought the watercolors were too bright for a place that was home to criminals and an American Indian occupation, but the varied formats (perspectives, plans, sections, etc.) do a good job of telling part of the story.

I have always been fascinated by architecture and in my younger years fascinated with Alcatraz Island. This small book is a complete history of the island and the buildings that made Alcatraz famous. The simple text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. My favorite chapter is number two that talks about Alcatraz as a fortress during the Civil War (a part of the history that I was unfamiliar with). The only thing that I did not like was the tiny font selected for the text. ( )

I have always been fascinated by architecture and in my younger years fascinated with Alcatraz Island. This small book is a complete history of the island and the buildings that made Alcatraz famous. The simple text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. My favorite chapter is number two that talks about Alcatraz as a fortress during the Civil War (a part of the history that I was unfamiliar with). The only thing that I did not like was the tiny font used for the text. ( )