Alcatraz Island

A "must see" San Francisco attraction. The boat ride to this former high-security prison provides excellent views of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the informative audio tour and explore the island's history and ecology with one of the National Park Rangers.

Alcatraz Island has a fascinating history: it was originally occupied by the military as a fort; followed by an army prison camp (where the prisoners created the jails that held them); then as the famous "prison within the prison system" where the nation's worst criminals were sent; then as the site of a Native American peace community; and now, of course, as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Without a doubt, Alcatraz is best-known for its role as the notorious home of incorrigible prisoners like Al "Scarface" Capone and Robert "the Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud and as the prison immortalized in movies such as the Clint Eastwood film Escape From Alcatraz and The Rock, starring Sean Connery.

Orientation Video
It is a good idea to see the 12-minute video called "Secrets of Alcatraz" as soon as you arrive at Alcatraz. This presentation reviews 200 years of Alcatraz history, from the time it was discovered by the Spanish (and named for the alcatraces, or pelicans, the Spanish saw there), to its present incarnation as a U.S. National Park.

The Award-Winning Audio Tour
We highly recommend the audiocassette tour of the former prison called "The Rock" by its inmates, which (happily) emphasizes the escape stories. If you've seen the movie Escape From Alcatraz (which we highly recommend), much of the prison will seem familiar to you: the exercise yard with the view of the bay from the top of the bleachers; the dining room where guards were prohibited from carrying guns for fear that their weapons would be used against them in the event of an insurrection; even Frank Morris's cell, including the grate, which according to legend, he had chipped away with a spoon. Don't be surprised if the cells seem even smaller than you expected; these weren't, after all, intended to be luxurious suites.

You will learn what life at Alcatraz was really like from the former prisoners and prison guards who narrate the tape. For example, an Alcatraz inmate was assured of only four things: food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Everything else, including reading material and exercise, was considered a privilege that had to be earned with good behavior.

One of the most poignant aspects of the tour is the realization of how close -- but unattainable -- the city of San Francisco must have seemed from the prison. On still nights, the prisoners could even hear laugher and voices from restaurants and parties across the bay. As a result, many prisoners dreamed of escaping, but standing in their way was the tight security and cold waters with dangerous currents and an occasional shark.

Island Flora and Fauna
If you visit in nice weather, be sure to leave time to wander around the island itself. In the years since the federal prison closed, Alcatraz has become a wildlife sanctuary. Birds flock to Alcatraz, attracted by the marine creatures (such as crabs and sea stars) that thrive in the tide pools surrounding the island and by the plants that shelter a tempting diet of mice, salamanders and insects. Western gull and black-crowned night heron colonies are so prevalent that the Park Service closes parts of the island during their breeding season to protect them.

The years since the prison closed have also been good to the island’s plants and flowers, many of which were the result of the correction officers’ (and their families’) gardening efforts. In season, you can even see the (now untended) roses by the Warden’s House – the remnants of the old ornamental gardens and terraces.

Details
The Blue & Gold Fleet (a concessionaire of the National Park Service) is the exclusive provider of ferry rides to Alcatraz. You can purchase tickets and board the ferry at Fisherman Wharf's Pier 41.

For more information regarding boat transportation or for advance ticket purchases phone (415) 705-5555 or go the the Blue & Gold Fleet web site. Note that there is small service charge for charging tickets over the phone, but that you can often get same-day reservations by phone that you can't get in person. If you want more information about the programs offered on Alcatraz Island, visit the National Park Service's web site.

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