I ended my trip along the Pacific Coast Highway with a stop in San Francisco. During my time there, I visited Alcatraz Island, the former federal prison nicknamed the Rock. As we left from Pier 33 for the 15 minute ferry ride across the San Francisco Bay, it quickly became obvious how the nickname came to be — it looks like a big rock in the middle of the bay. Once we arrived at the island, a park ranger provided a brief orientation and history lesson. We learned the name Alcatraz was derived from “Alcatraces”, the Spanish word for pelicans, and the island was so named by Spanish explorers because of the many pelicans then living on the island. We also learned about the island’s history as a military fort and prison, and its occupation by Native Americans protestors. After the orientation, we headed up to the main cellhouse for the self-guided audio tour, which was excellent. It’s available in numerous languages, and was the highlight of the tour for me.
The tour includes stops at the four jail blocks, warden’s office, visitation room, library, gun gallery, recreation yard, dining hall and kitchen. It’s narrated by former prisoners and correctional officers, with clanging doors and other sounds so life-like that it almost feels like you were really there. You’ll learn about infamous prisoners, such as Birdman, Al Capone, and Whitey Bulger, and hear about events such as escape attempts, “The Battle of ’46”, food riots, and solitary confinement. You’ll also hear and feel the strong winds, which give you a real sense of the harsh environment and isolation on the Rock. The prison was ultimately closed because of its high maintenance and operational costs.
Despite its storied history, Alcatraz Island is now a national park and popular tourist attraction. While there are several companies offering tours to Alcatraz (often at inflated prices), Alcatraz Cruises is the only official provider. The tours frequently sell out, so you should buy tickets in advance if you intend to visit. I bought tickets one week before and many times were already unavailable.
Have you been to Alcatraz? What did you think about it? Share your comments below.
Visit the photo gallery for more Alcatraz photos
I’ve been to San Francisco many times, but had never been to Alcatraz because the tickets were always sold out on the weekends. (When I finally went, it was on a Monday). It was worth the wait – Alcatraz was awesome! The best part was the self-guided tour. The narrated stories from the former prisoners and guards and the accompanying life-like sounds, made you feel like you were also experiencing what they had. Walking around the grounds gave you a sense of just how harsh life was on the island. The one positive was the spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Bay Bridge – the vantage point from Alcatraz is second to none!!! A trip to San Fran is not complete without a visit to Alcatraz island. You won’t be disappointed!
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