# Aerial view of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California (Highsmith, Library of Congress)

Canonical: https://mobfiles.org/items/loc-2011630955-highsmith-alcatraz-aerial/

Color aerial photograph of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay with the Marin shoreline behind it, dated by the Library of Congress between 1980 and 2006. Used as a view of the island only.

The Library's record dates the photograph "between 1980 and 2006" and notes that the title, date and keywords were provided by the photographer. It is a transparency digitized by the photographer, in the Selects series of the Highsmith Archive. The photograph shows the island from the air in color, with its buildings on the island's high point.

It says nothing about the penitentiary years, which the Bureau of Prisons dates from 1934 to 21 March 1963 ([BOP Alcatraz history](/items/bop-alcatraz-history/)). A federal aerial view of the same subject, dated 1986, is [also filed](/items/nara-6410397-alcatraz-aerial-1986/).

## Sources

- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Carol M. Highsmith Archive): https://www.loc.gov/item/2011630955/