On Friday, August 15, Historian Greg Wellman will appear at the Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco. From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Greg will sign copies of his new book, A History of Alcatraz Island: 1853-2008.

With over 200 vintage photographs from both public and private collections, Greg's book documents the story of one of America's best-known landmarks. Alcatraz is one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast, it was a Civil War fort and, of course, one of the most (in)famous prisons in US history.

The island is also an interesting naturalist study and is a major tourist attraction. In A History of Alcatraz Island, Greg gives us the whole story of the island as it transformed from the boom years after the gold rush till today.

Alcatraz is one of the most beautiful places in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as one of the loneliest. The views of the City, the Golden Gate Bridge  and the entire Bay are stunning, and exactly what punished prisoners there the most — more, possibly, than their sentence. They were so close to the good life....

We locals may be much too cool for tourist attractions, but we all have done the Alcatraz tour  and admit without embarrassment: Alcatraz is cool.

The Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco is at 420 Montgomery Street . If you'd like more information about Greg's appearance, please call the Museum at (415) 396-2619.

Come meet Greg and have him sign a book for you. Oh, and bring your favorite story about a watch!