Alcatraz Trip
From LoveToKnow Travel
An Alcatraz trip is one of the highlights of any trip to the San Francisco Bay area. The "rock" was a military stockade and later a maximum security prison. It is also the site of the first lighthouse on the west coast of the United States. Closed in 1963, the island is now a National Historic Site and is run as a tourist attraction by the National Park Service.
History of Alcatraz
Alcatraz was first "discovered" by European explorers in 1775, when Spanish Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala sailed into San Francisco Bay in order to chart the area. It was he who gave the island its current name, after the Spanish words for "Island of the Sea Birds."
The island was made into a harbor defense around 1859 and during the Civil War the island was the largest American fort west of the Mississippi River. Gradually the Army began using the fortress to house Confederate spies and army deserters.
The Army transferred the prison to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in 1934. The BOP converted the aging military prison into a maximum-security, state-of-the-art civilian penitentiary.
Infamous Alcatraz Residents
Many a convicted criminal made an Alcatraz trip across the San Francisco Bay. Among the most famous/infamous were:
- Al Capone – Most famous for as a bootlegger and gang chief in 1930s Chicago, he was arrested on tax evasion charges, through the efforts of Eliot Ness and his "untouchables."
- Robert Franklin Stroud – The infamous "Birdman of Alcatraz," Stroud, convicted for manslaughter, was famous for raising and selling canaries and other birds from his cell.
Contrary to urban legend, no prisoners ever escaped from Alcatraz – at least not according to the US government. Prison records cite 14 attempts involving 36 prisoners.
Decline
Alcatraz was closed as a federal prison in 1963. The last convicts were removed from the island on March 21 of that year. For many years, the island remained uninhabited. In 1969, Native Americans, representing many tribes claimed the island as "Indian Land." The protest drew national attention until federal marshals removed the "squatters" in 1971. The island was opened to visitors in 1973. Today, more than 1.3 million visitors make the Alcatraz trip.
Alcatraz in Popular Culture
Alcatraz has appeared in numerous books, movies, and games. Among them are The Birdman of Alcatraz with Burt Lancaster, Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood, The Rock, and So I Married an Ax Murderer.
Taking an Alcatraz Trip
Alcatraz is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the San Francisco Bay area. Visitors begin their Alcatraz trip from the dock at Fisherman's Wharf. A short cruise takes you over to the island and offers excellent views of the city skyline.
Allow about 2 ½ hours to tour Alcatraz Island. The National Park Service offers a short orientation film near the dock as well as audio walking tours, which feature the actual voices of guards and inmates. The tour takes you to the cellblock, the warden's house, the isolation cell, and the prison yard. During the bird nesting season, from late September to mid-February, visitors can also explore the island's historic parade ground and can hike down the Agave Trail to the water's edge.
No food service is available on the island and the walking is sometimes rigorous. A shuttle is offered each hour from the dock for those preferring not to climb the steep hill to the prison, but few parts of Alcatraz are wheelchair accessible.
Alcatraz is open every day except for Christmas and New Year's Day. The Alcatraz trip is very popular and tickets often sell out early. It is wise to reserve in advance. Tickets may be purchased online from Alcatraz Cruises.
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