Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California, circa 1950

Subjects: Aerial Views & Panoramas Waterfronts & Harbors
Card type: Chrome
Date: c. 1945 (Linen)

Back of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California, circa 1950, c. 1945 chrome postcard — Back

About this subject

Elevated color view of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, showing the cellhouse complex, guard tower, lighthouse, and the "ALCATRAZ" sign on the dock building, surrounded by dark blue water.

Postcard Details

Message

No message detected

PublisherSmith News Co.

Alcatraz, San Francisco, California SF 10 --- ALCATRAZ ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO Located in the Bay between San Francisco and Sausalito, Alcatraz, known colloquially as "The Rock", is the Federal State Prison for incorrigibles. The Spanish, first settlers of this region, called it "Isla de Alcatraces" (Island of Pelicans) because of large colonies of these birds which nested on its 12 acres. It was made a Federal Penitentiary in 1933. K8748 PUB. BY SMITH NEWS CO., 75 WILLIAMS AVE., SAN FRANCISCO 24, CALIF A "COLOURPICTURE" PUBLICATION, BOSTON 15, MASS., U. S. A. POST CARD PLACE STAMP HERE SN.

Addressed to

No address detected

Postcard record

Series	SF 10
Condition	Very good
Place depicted	Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA
Place mentioned	Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA
Publisher	Smith News Co., 75 Williams Ave., San Francisco, CA
Notes	Chrome-era color card, no white border; slight edge wear. No postmark, no stamp, no handwriting on this scan. Divided-back chrome-era (Colourpicture) card; printed caption and publisher imprint only. Front is a glossy chrome view of Alcatraz.

Cite this card

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California, circa 1950, postcard, c. 1945. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/alcatraz-island-san-francisco-california-circa-1950. Accessed October 5, 2026.