Living History Day on Alcatraz
February 23, 2008

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Living History Days February 23, 08 Report:

Alcatraz Island was host to the first Living History Day with the emphasis on the American Civil War during the period of 1861 - 1865. The island is world famous for housing a Federal Prison from 1934 to 1963 along with the many notorious inmates. The island is lesser known as a military fortification that offered protection for San Francisco, the surrounding cities, and San Francisco Bay. During the period from the 1850's until a number of years after the Civil War ended the military installation on Alcatraz Island continued to be the largest fortification west of the Mississippi River. The strategic plan was to mount as many as 300 large guns on the island. On February 23, 2008, the National Park Service and the Friends of Civil War Alcatraz hosted the LHD event that was supported by the Golden Gate Conservancy. Approximately 50 Civil War re-enactors volunteered to participate in reenactment activities of the Civil War period. Their uniforms and insignias were representative of those present between 1861 and 1865 on the island. The activities included drills, marching, prisoner escort, encampment cooking, and guard duty. A uniformed band throughout the day performed Civil War period music. The band was placed near the dock area to perform for all arriving and all departing visitors to the island. The 24-pound Howitzer on display in the Sally port was used as a model to illustrate the techniques of loading and of firing a large gun by a Civil War artillery group of re-enactors. The Sally port demonstration was observed by a large number of the visitors. Displays of medical instruments and related equipment were presented along with descriptions and explanations of their use.

The staff of Alcatraz Rangers and Alcatraz Volunteers supported and facilitated the activities of the day. Interpretative programs and tours with an emphasis on those existing Civil War period historical structures that still exist on the island. Noteworthy historical structures include brick walls, guardhouse and sally port, lower level of the Citadel, gardens, and battery remnants.

A large number of public visitors and re-enactors involved themselves with tours and special exhibits in addition to observing and touring the world famous prisoner blocks of cells, the scenic landscape, the fascinating architecture on the island, and the natural beauty of the island and its surroundings.

The Friends of Civil War presented those who participated in the Living History Day with a signed certificate and a Living History Day patch.

All of the public visitors, the Civil War re-enactors, the NPS staff, Alcatraz Rangers, Alcatraz Volunteers, Alcatraz Tours, and Friends of Civil War Alcatraz are to be congratulated for the success of the Living History Day. Special thanks are given to Historian John Martini and Alcatraz Volunteer/Co-Director of FOCWA Brad Schall for their leadership of the special tours.  Alcatraz Volunteer/FOCWA  Officer John Nevins coordinated and organized an exceptional event - thank you.

Attendees with Group Leader Brad Schall:

Soldier Sean Taylor:

Living History Day photos by Susan Cohn

 

 

Click here for Living History Days 2008 photos by Patti Ballard

Alcatraz Living History Days 2008 Announcement

Alcatraz Living History Days 2008 Registration Form

Living History Days
October 4, 2008

Participants limited to 150 people.  This was an expanded version of the very successful February 23^rd Living History event:

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Norm Roger	Yvonne Zolna and Jane Lehman	Barbara Gereleman (Charter Member)	Karen Groom
Lynne Ashby (Charter Member)	Billy Coye, unknown public, Tom Bispo, unknown participant	Yvonne Zolna	Leann Griffin and Sharyle Leidy
Chuck Graff (Charter Member), Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Billy Coye	Amy Brees, Constance Smith-Golda (Member), Lynne Ashby (Charter Member), unknown participant, unknown participant, Emma Wall	Unknown participant, public, public, Amy Brees, Constance Smith-Golda (Member)	Unknown participant, Emma Wall
No ID’s	Tony Vranicar, Jennifer Roger, Billy Ashby (Member), Steve Hessenauer, Chris Burgan	Tony Vranicar, Jennifer Roger, Billy Ashby (Member), Chris Burgan (back to camera), Tom Bispo, Steve Hessenauer	Steve Hessenauer and Tom Bispo
Billy Coye (rear rank), Tony Vranicar, Cary Dunne (rear rank), Jennifer Roger, Billy Ashby (Member), Tom Bispo (rear rank), Chris Burgan (back to camera)	Tony Vranicar, Chris Burgan, Jennifer Roger, Cary Dunne, Billy Ashby (Member), Steve Hessenauer	Members of the public with Elizabeth Lowrie	Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Billy Coye, Jane Lehman
Members of the public with Elizabeth Lowrie	Scott Wall	Billy Coye	Tom Bispo
Tony Vranicar	Tom Bispo, NPS Ranger, Tony Vranicar	Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Chuck Graff (Charter Member) and member of the public
Chuck Graff, member of the public, Jane Lehman	Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Billy Coye, Jane Lehman	Billy Coye, Tom Bispo, Scott Wall (back to camera), Tony Vranicar, NPS Ranger	Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Scott Wall, Billy Coye
Constance Smith-Golda (Member)	John Boyd and member of the public	No ID	No ID
John Boyd	No ID	Billy Coye	Steve Hessenauer
Norm Roger and Chris Burgan	Loren Griffith	Loren Griffith	Loren Griffith
Keith Rogers with the public	Keith Rogers	Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Keith Rogers
No ID	Unknown participant	Yvonne Zolna and Jane Lehman	Elizabeth Lowrie
Maryanne Roger, member of the public, Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Maryanne Roger	Maryanne Roger, member of the public, Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Chuck Graff (Charter Member) and Amy Brees
Chuck Gardali (Charter Member)	Laurie Rogers	John Cantwell, Jayeson Vance, Chuck Graff (Charter Member), Amy Brees, Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Billy Coye, Jane Lehman	Fred Bohmfalk (Charter Member), John Cantwell, Jayeson Vance, Tom Bispo, Chuck Graff (Charter Member), Amy Brees
Fred Bohmfalk (Charter Member), John Cantwell, Tom Bispo, Jayeson Vance, Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Jennifer Roger and Cary Dunne	Billy Coye, member of the public, Tom Bispo, Tony Vranicar	Norm Roger
Norm Roger and unknown	Jane Lehman and Yvonne Zolna	Billy Coye, member of the public, Tom Bispo, Tony Vranicar	Laurie Rogers
No ID	Laurie Rogers with the public	Unknown participant	Billy Coye
Amy Brees and Constance Smith-Golda (Member)	Amy Brees and Constance Smith-Golda (Member)	John Boyd	John Boyd and Amy Brees
Constance Smith-Golda (Member)	Billy Coye, Cary Dunne, Tony Vranicar, Jennifer Roger, Chris Burgan	Chuck Graff (Charter Member)	Billy Coye, Cary Dunne, Tony Vranicar, Jennifer Roger, Billy Ashby (in brown), Steve Hessenauer (far rear), Chris Burgan
No ID	Steve Hessenauer, Tom Bispo (behind)	Cary Dunne and Jennifer Roger	Elizabeth Lowrie
Laurie Rogers, Keith Rogers, Larry Rogers, Yvonne Zolna	Scott Wall, Billy Coye, Tom Bispo, NPS Ranger, Tony Vranicar	Scott Wall, NPS Ranger, Billy Coye, Tom Bispo, Tony Vranicar	Billy Ashby (Member) and Elizabeth Lowrie
John Dangerfield and Elizabeth Lowrie	Elizabeth Lowrie	Jayeson Vance, Chuck Graff (Charter Member), Amy Brees	Jayeson Vance, Chuck Graff (Charter Member), Amy Brees, Tony Vranicar, Tom Bispo, Billy Coye, Jane Lehman
Chuck Graff (Charter Member) and Amy Brees	Jayeson Vance	Jayeson Vance	Unknown