3. Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is famous for its forbidding penitentiary, once home to America’s most infamous criminals. But before its notoriety as a federal prison, it served as a military fortress and prison, where conditions were notoriously grim. In 1969, Alcatraz took on new meaning when Native American activists occupied the island to protest federal policies and reclaim their heritage. This bold act shined a light on broken treaties and indigenous rights, etching Alcatraz’s name into the history of social justice.
