Alcatraz Island tours are a favorite of San Francisco visitors because of its colorful history and the many books and movies that featured the famous island prison.
|
|
|
Pictures &
Alcatraz Prison as seen
from the Ferryboat
Alcatraz Prison as seen
from Fisherman's Wharf
Alcatraz Prisioner's Cell
Alcatraz Island photograph
An exciting way to see Alcatraz Island from the air is on a
SF Seaplane Tour.
San Francisco Picture Galleries
|
Alcatraz Island history includes serving as a military fortification in the 1850’s, an incarceration facility for Spanish-American War prisoners, and a federal maximum-security prison from 1934 to 1963.
The Alcatraz prison launch "Warden Johnston" made 12 trips each day to San Francisco and back from 1945 to 1961 bringing the prison guards, their families and the prisoners necessary supplies, and occasionally transporting prisoners for court dates.
An earthquake retrofitting on Alcatraz Island may provide the public its first access to a Civil War fort called the Citadel located deep below Alcatraz Island Prison.
Alcatraz Island was seized and occupied by a group of American Indians from 1969 to 1971 in a successful protest against the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Occupation of Alcatraz Island served as a catalyst for change; a starting point for major events, protests, occupations and legislation that has effected the lives of American Indians ever since. In addition to the occupation's effect on government policy and treatment of American Indians there was the "Indian Renaissance" which took place among Indians themselves.
Alcatraz Island Prison is now a popular visitor destination as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco.
Alcatraz Island Prison Tour tickets are often sold out a week or more in advance.
Purchase all Alcatraz Tickets on-line to save money and be sure that you'll see everything you want to see during San Francisco's often sold out summer season and many busy weekends throughout the year.
Be sure to take a jacket or sweater for your visit to The Rock because it can be quite cool on San Francisco Bay even in the summer. And don't forget your camera! In addition to all the history of Alcatraz Island Prison you will have great views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Check out the two panoramas on the left side of this page for an idea of what you will see from Alcatraz Island.
|
 I recently enjoyed a San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise which is where I shot the picture above — of passengers disembarcing for the Alcatraz Island Tour — and the picture to the right of the famous island as the sun sets on San Francisco and the Golden Gate.
|
|
 A third picture from the same sunset cruise shows Alcatraz Island from the west end with the Bay Bridge in the distance behind it and San Francisco to the right.
Once the temporary home of famous criminals like Al “Scarface” Capone, “Doc” Barker, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Robert Stroud — the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” Alcatraz Island now harbors nesting birds in such numbers that the Park Service limits access to parts of the island during nesting season.
Many people are familiar with the Alcatraz Island Prison from movies made about it including Birdman of Alcatraz and Escape from Alcatraz. There is even an annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
 Alcatraz lighthouse, the first lighthouse built on the Pacific Coast, was completed and lit for the first time in the summer of 1853, and a fog bell, rung by hand, was added in 1856.
The original lighthouse, a California Cottage design similar to Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, in San Diego was demolished in 1909 to make way for the construction of the prison on Alcatraz Island.
The only way to get to or from Alcatraz Island is by ferry boat from Fisherman’s Wharf. That is, unless you consider yourself to be a very good open water swimmer.
Visit the National Park Service site for additional historical and current event information. Another informative site is Alcatraz - The Warden Johnston Years.
When you visit Alcatraz Island be prepared for the one-quarter of a mile hike to the top or take the shuttle which makes a trip every hour to carry visitors up the slope. No food is sold on the island so you should plan to eat before you go or take food with you.
Alcatraz Island is closed on just two days - Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Alcatraz visitation starts at 9:30 am with departures to the Island every half an hour. The Island closes at 6:30 pm in the summertime and at 4:30 pm the rest of the year. The National Park Service strongly advises visitors to get advance tickets. Tours will often sell out a week in advance during the popular tourist season.
Read about the Post at Alcatraz Island, at the California Military Museum on-line. Enjoy views of Alcatraz Island SF from many other iNeTours.com neighborhoods including; Coit Tower, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park, Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge.
|
