Alcatraz Historic Gardens Gallery

For more than a century, the extraordinary gardens of Alcatraz were an important part of everyday life for officers, families, and prisoners confined to the island. Many of the plants selected by these unheralded gardeners proved to be excellent choices for the harsh and barren environment, flourishing through the four decades of neglect that followed the prison’s closing. The Alcatraz Historic Gardens project helps preserve, rebuild, and maintain the gardens created by those who lived on the island during its military and prison eras, and interpret their history, horticulture, and cultural significance for visitors.