Alcatraz Island
- Visit: about 2 h
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Why go
- Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud were among the federal prison’s inmates.
- The West Coast’s oldest operating lighthouse stands on the island.
- The Bardou Job rose was rediscovered and propagated after it was thought extinct.
Don't miss
- Main CellhouseVisit the concrete prison block built by military prisoners, with 600 cells, a kitchen, dining hall, infirmary and offices.Island
- Occupation graffitiGraffiti from the Native American occupation remains visible in many places on the island.Several places on the island
- Island gardensLook for roses, succulents, geraniums, apple and fig trees, sweet peas and native grasses.Island gardens
- Parade GroundsCarved into the hillside in the late 19th century, the grounds now support wildlife.Parade Grounds
- Western cliffsThe western cliffs rise nearly 100 feet and provide nesting and roosting sites for seabirds.Western side of the island
With kids
- For a child’s-eye view of island life, talk about the prison staff’s children who attended school here and later formed an alumni association.
Tips for your visit
- Allow a couple of hours on the island.
- Food options on the island are limited to dry snacks and candy sold at the bookstore.
Know before you go
- A ferry ticket is required to visit Alcatraz Island.
History
Guards lived on the island with their families; about 300 civilians, including 80 children, lived there. During the later Native American occupation, occupiers sought an Indian education centre, an ecology centre and a cultural centre.
- 1775Juan Manuel de Ayala charted San Francisco Bay and named one of its islands Alcatraces.
- 1826Frederick William Beechey applied the name Alcatrazes Island to this island.
- 1850President Millard Fillmore set the island aside as a United States military reservation.
- 1852A lighthouse was built to help ships navigate the bay’s fog and hazards.
- 1853–1859Army engineers fortified the island; work ended in December 1859, when the first Camp Alcatraz garrison arrived.
Show all
- 1867–1868A brick prison was built, and the island became an official military detention site the next year.
- 1909The lighthouse was rebuilt.
- 1934Alcatraz became a federal prison.
- 1946A failed escape attempt by six prisoners led to the Battle of Alcatraz on May 2.
- March 21, 1963The federal prison closed, partly because of high operating costs and the lack of a freshwater source.
- March 8, 1964Native American activists first occupied the island.
- November 20, 1969–June 11, 1971United Indians of All Tribes occupied the island to protest federal policies toward American Indians.
- 1972Alcatraz became part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- 1976–1986The island entered the National Register of Historic Places and became a National Historic Landmark.
How to get there
- BoatTake the Alcatraz City Cruises ferry from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero, south of Bay Street.
- TramMUNI F Line historic streetcars run past the Pier 33 landing.
- ParkingUse nearby commercial lots for general parking; limited accessible spaces at Pier 33 are available first come, first served.
Accessibility
- Ferry landing at Pier 33 The landing is fully accessible.
Shorts
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Alcatraz prison San Francisco trippyLive Surf Love with Sean Dougherty
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Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Ca.Travel Lover's Escape
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Tour Of Alcatraz Island Prison In San Francisco, CaliforniaJade Allen Cook
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📍Alcatraz Island - Pier 33,NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Alcatraz Island | Location and How to Get There | US Travel GuideThe Travel Guide
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Alcatraz Island: San Francisco LandmarkEden Bites and Flights
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Alcatraz Island in SanFrancisco, CaliforniaThe Mom Life (Dhee R.)
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What to expect on your Alcatraz Island Tours inCodeNameKate
Interesting facts5
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8.5 hectares
The island covers 8.5 hectares, is about 500 metres long and reaches 41 metres high.
Alcatraz - Wikipedia -
200 people
A citadel near the lighthouse could shelter 200 people during a siege.
Île d'Alcatraz - Wikipedia -
Nearly one million gallons of water had to be brought from the mainland each week while the federal prison operated.
Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia (part 2) -
100 years
Some garden plants were found growing where they had been planted more than 100 years earlier.
Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia (part 3) -
Archaeologists found buried fortifications, tunnels and ammunition magazines beneath the former recreation yard.
Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia
Sources: Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia · Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia (part 2) · Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia (part 3) · Alcatraz Island (U.S. National Park Service) · Plan Your Visit - Alcatraz Island (U.S. Nationa… · Basic Information - Alcatraz Island (U.S. Natio… · Alcatraz - Wikipedia · Île d'Alcatraz - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026
- Website
- nps.gov/alca/index.htm
- Phone
- +1 415-561-4900
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What does the name Alcatraz mean?
It comes from an old Spanish word for pelicans.
Which films feature Alcatraz Island?
The island appears in Escape from Alcatraz and The Rock.
Did any prisoner reach shore from Alcatraz?
John Paul Scott reached shore in 1962, but was found unconscious and suffering from hypothermic shock.
What was Alcatraz used for before the federal prison?
It served first as a military fort and later as a military prison.
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