San Jose Mercury News
Biologists from the National Park Service have turned on a live streaming public web camera featuring “Larry,” a 6-year-old peregrine falcon who built a nest several years ago on the famed 22-acre island in San Francisco Bay that was once was home to America’s toughest federal prison. The camera was set up with the help of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
The move comes after the National Park Service, which owns Alcatraz, has been steadily reopening other national parks, including Yosemite, Muir Woods, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Pinnacles and others, often with reduced visitation and closed visitor centers.
Muir Beach will be once again open to the public after undergoing a six-month, $4 million revamp.
Alcatraz Island, which hosted its last inmate 50 years ago today, was also home to prison workers and their families who returned to the island this morning to mark the anniversary and recount their lives there.
On September 27th visitors to Alcatraz Island will get an extra element to explore, an art exhibit by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz. The exhibit explores human rights and freedom of expression in seven site-specific installations in four locations, some areas not usually open to the public, throughout the island.
There's nothing subtle about the work of Ai Weiwei, the internationally known Chinese political dissident and artist who designed the striking exhibition titled "@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz," opening Saturday and running through April 26. His comment on freedom of expression and human rights -- through images of political prisoners captured here in one of the world's most infamous lockups -- echo loudly, like the clank of cellblock doors.
