Alcatraz water tower
Alcatraz water tower is on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, off the coast of San Francisco, California. It is located on the northwestern side of the island, near Tower No. 3, beyond the Morgue and Recreation Yard.[1] The water tank is situated on six cross-braced steel legs submerged in concrete foundations.[2][3]
History
As Alcatraz had no water supply of its own, it had to import it from the mainland, brought by tug and barge.[4] During the island's military years, it was stored in ground tanks and cisterns situated on the roof of the citadel.[5] The water tower was built in 1940–41 by the Federal Bureau of Prisons,[6] after the island received a government renovations grant to supply the majority of the island's fresh water.[5]
It is the tallest building on the island, at a height of 94 feet (29 meters) with a volume of 250,000 U.S. gallons (950,000 liters; 210,000 imperial gallons) of fresh water. It was used to store potable water for drinking, water for firefighting,[3][7][8] and water for the island's service laundry facility. During the Occupation of Alcatraz, the water tower was subject to heavy graffiti by the Native Americans and has since become a cultural landmark.[3][9] Graffiti included "free Indian land -- Indians welcome."[7]
The tower has been empty since 1963 and has deteriorated, eroded by the salt air and wind. From November 2011 through April 2012, the tower was given a US$1.1 million restoration to prevent "irreparable damage and loss of important historic resources".[3] Steel components were replaced and the tower was seismically upgraded. The lead paint was sanded and the tower repainted with marine paint.[10]
References
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