Passive Voice

JOIN: Alcatraz Island served as a Federal prison from 1934  to 1963.
WITH: It is located in San Francisco Bay.

Alcatraz Island , -- locating at the entrance to San Francisco Bay located at the entrance to San Francisco Bay , served as a Federal prison from 1934  to 1963,

JOIN: Alcatraz Island is a small, 18 acre, island.  (7.3 hectares)
WITH: It was discovered by Juan Manuel de Ayala.

Alcatraz Island,   -- discovered by Juan Manuel de Ayala discovering by Juan Manuel de Ayala is a small, 18 acre, island.

JOIN: Juan de Ayala named the island "La Isla de los alcatraces". (Island of Pelicans).
WITH: He charted San Francisco Bay.

Juan de Ayala -- charted San Francisco Bay charting San Francisco Bay named the island "La Isla de los alcatraces".

JOIN: Alcatraz housed several infamous criminals.
WITH: It served as a Federal prison.

Alcatraz -- served as a Federal prison serving as a Federal prison housed several infamous criminals.

JOIN: Robert Stroud became known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz". 
WITH: He spent 17 years on "the rock".

Robert Stroud  -- spending 17 years on "the rock" spent 17 years on "the rock"   became known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz".

JOIN: Al Capone continued running his rackets from behind bars by buying off guards.  (racket = illegal operations; behind bars = in prison)
WITH: He arrived in 1934.

Al Capone, -- arriving in 1934 arrived in 1934 , continued running his rackets from behind bars by buying off guards.

JOIN: Prisoners knew that escape from the island was impossible.
WITH: They were held in Alcatraz.

Prisoners -- held in Alcatraz holding in Alcatraz  knew that escape from the island was impossible.

JOIN:  The prison was *corroded, aged and too expensive to operate.
WITH: The prison was closed in 1963.

The prison, -- closed in 1963 closing in 1963 , was corroded, aged and too expensive to operate.

corroded = worn by chemical reaction to the salt air
 

JOIN: In 1969, Native Americans moved onto the island.
WITH: They were relocated from other areas.

In 1969, Native Americans, -- relocated from other areas relocating from other areas , moved onto the island .

JOIN: The Native Americans wanted to turn the island into an education, culture and ecology center. 
WITH: They were claiming the island under the *Under the Treaty of Fort Laramie 1868.

The Native Americans, -- claimed the island claiming the island under the *Under the Treaty of Fort Laramie 1868, wanted to turn the island into an education, culture and ecology center.

*An agreement between the Sioux and the U.S. to return all un-used Federal land to the tribe.
 

JOIN: Fires made the occupation of the island difficult for the Native Americans. 
WITH: The fires were set by unknown causes.

Fires, -- set by unknown causes setting by unknown causes , made the occupation of the island difficult for the Native Americans.

JOIN: The Native Americans had gotten enough public support to renegotiate the U.S. treaty. 
WITH: They were forced off the island.

The Native Americans, -- forcing off the island forced off the island , fortunately, had gotten enough public support to renegotiate the U.S. treaty.

JOIN:  Currently, Alcatraz island serves as a cultural center, tourist destination and site for filming movies. 
WITH: The island is designated as a National Historical Landmark.

Currently, Alcatraz island, -- designated as a National Historical Landmark designating as a National Historical Landmark , serves as a cultural center, tourist destination and site for filming movies.