The photograph “Alcatraz, from North Point” was captured by the artist Carleton Watkins around the year 1866. It provides a historical view of Alcatraz Island as seen from North Point.
In the photograph, we observe a serene coastal scene, likely from a vantage point on the mainland looking toward Alcatraz Island. Several buildings, presumably part of a coastal settlement or facility, are in the foreground, with a small pier jutting into what appears to be a calm body of water. Alcatraz Island itself is visible in the distance, set against a backdrop that includes another hill or island. The image has the clear and detailed quality characteristic of Watkins’ landscape photography, which often captures the grandeur and intricacy of natural and man-made environments. The materials and construction styles of the buildings reflect the era, as does the infrastructure visible in the form of utility poles and lines leading across the image. The absence of modern developments signifies its mid-19th-century context, providing insight into the earlier stages of development around the San Francisco Bay area, prior to Alcatraz becoming the infamous federal penitentiary it is best known for today.