The Warden's House was the home of the wardens of the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, off San Francisco. Located at the southeastern end of the Main Cellblock, next to the Alcatraz Lighthouse, the 3-floor, 15-room mansion was built in 1921 according to a Golden Gate National Recreation Area signpost, although some sources say it was built in 1926 or 1929 and had 17 or 18 rooms.
Between 1934 and 1963, the four wardens of Alcatraz resided here, including the first warden, James A. Johnston. A house of luxury in stark contrast to the jail next to it, the wardens often held lavish cocktail parties here. The mansion had tall windows providing fine views of San Francisco Bay, and the signpost at the spot shows the house once had a terraced garden and greenhouse.
The house is now a ruin, having been burnt during the AIM (American Indian Movement) Occupation of Alcatraz on June 1, 1970. AIM tried to put out the flames, but a bucket brigade was inadequate. The greenhouse was a place where working was a mark of trust and approval for an inmate. Today, the slope below the Warden's House has been the subject of structural remediation as it was deteriorating.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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