Alcatraz

Alcatraz, the former federal island prison that once held notorious figures like gangster Al Capone, offers national park visitors a close-up look at maximum-security, minimum-privilege life. The island, originally an 1850s military fort, is also home to the West Coast’s first lighthouse (since replaced by the current structure) and is recognized as the birthplace of the Native American “Red Power” movement, sparked by the occupation of Alcatraz from 1969 to 1971.

Beyond its storied history, Alcatraz features historic gardens, tidepools, nesting bird habitats, stunning bay views, and compelling new exhibits that address both environmental and social issues.

Housed in the historic New Industries Building are two current exhibits: Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Alcatraz Occupation by Indians of All Tribes—a pivotal event in the Native American civil rights movement—and Birds in a Changing Climate, which examines the island’s waterbird populations.

Also on view is The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States, which examines Alcatraz’s legacy as a military prison and federal penitentiary within the broader context of mass incarceration—highlighting that 2.3 million people are currently imprisoned in the U.S., more than in any other country in the world.

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Learn more about the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes and Night Tours. You’ll get access to hidden areas of the island on small tours led by NPS rangers and historical experts from the Parks Conservancy. No two tours are ever the same.
Transportation to Alcatraz is via ferryboats departing from Pier 33. The ferry trip lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Once on the island, you may take any available ferry back to San Francisco; during the day ferries depart the island approximately every 30 minutes. Schedules are posted throughout Alcatraz.
A round-trip visit typically takes between two and three hours. Reservations are essential, especially in the summer; tickets can be purchased in advance by phone at (415) 981-7625 and online at www.alcatrazcruises.com with a major credit card. Alcatraz is open daily except for Christmas and New Year's Day.
Be prepared for steep climbs and uneven walking surfaces; the roadway from the dock area to the cellhouse is a 12 percent grade. An accessibility tram is available for those unable to navigate this incline.
Alcatraz’s current visitors experience an island that is alive with colorful plants gathered decades ago from around the world, and complemented by newly introduced plants. These historic gardens not only illustrate the importance of gardens to the human spirit, but also the ecological benefits and aesthetic possibilities of sustainable gardening.

Lighthouse
Alcatraz was the home of the West Coast’s first lighthouse. Equipped with a simple oil lamp, the Alcatraz light began guiding ships in 1854. In 1909, when construction of the cell house threatened to block the light, the old lighthouse was replaced with the iconic 84-foot tower seen today. The tower’s automated rotating light continues to be a key navigational aid.

Fortress Alcatraz
The oldest extant structure on the island, the sally port, dates to the 1850s when Alcatraz was fortified by the US Army. At the dock, look for Building 64, Fortress Alcatraz’s original barracks building. Other relics of the island’s military past include a parade ground, the ruins of officers’ cottages, and the first floor of the original military citadel (an inaccessible maze under the cellhouse).

The Cellhouse
During Prohibition and the Great Depression, the federal government developed a new type of prison for the most incorrigible troublemakers. The maximum-security, minimum-privilege Alcatraz facility was specially designed for inmates so troublesome that other federal prisons couldn’t handle them. During its 29 years of operation, more than 1,500 convicts were incarcerated here. The expense of operating and maintaining such an isolated facility brought about the prison’s closure in 1963.

Learn more about the prison’s history through the self-guiding audio tour, which features the voices of inmates and correctional officers (and their families) who lived and worked on Alcatraz.

Native American Occupation
While Alcatraz stood empty and the federal government debated its fate, a boatload of 89 Native Americans claimed the island as “Indian land.” Frustrated by lack of support and personal tragedies, and confronted by US Marshals, the last of the occupiers left Alcatraz in 1971. While the occupation was short-lived, its ramifications were not: Native American pride surged and the US government abandoned its attempts to eliminate the Native American reservation system.

The Gardens of Alcatraz
Military and prison personnel transformed portions of Alcatraz from barren sandstone rock to gardens of lush leaves and colorful blossoms. Once the prison closed in 1963, the neglected gardens became overgrown and wild. Today, through the efforts of dedicated volunteers, the Garden Conservancy is partnering with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to bring the gardens back to life! Visitors can now see a host of unique plant varieties no longer commercially available. Learn more about the historic gardens.

A National Park
In 1972, Alcatraz was added to the newly created Golden Gate National Parks and was opened to the public in 1973.