If you’re like me, your knowledge of Alcatraz Island is probably based mostly on things seen in movies. Ever since I first watched Escape from Alcatraz, the 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood, I’ve thought it would be a fascinating place to visit. I can now confirm that it is!
With only one day to spend in San Francisco, visiting Alcatraz was at the top of my to-do list. To maximize time, my mom and I booked the “early bird” tour with Alcatraz Cruises that departed from Pier 33 at 8:45 am ($39.90 per person). Since Alcatraz is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this ferry provider is the only way to visit the island. The boat ride offers some good views of the island, the city, its bridges, and we were lucky to also see a flock of pelicans fly right alongside the boat.
The early bird ferry was a great option for us since we came from the Eastern time zone and had not yet adjusted to Pacific time. The early start put us ahead of the crowd that increased on the island throughout the remainder of the morning. Upon arrival, you are required to listen to a short orientation by a park ranger. Then, there’s an optional, short introductory video that plays in a building just up the hill from the boat dock. I found the video worthwhile for the background information and history of the island it shares.
The island was initially occupied as a military fort, then a military prison, before becoming a federal penitentiary from 1934-1963. It was particularly interesting to learn that the guards and their families actually lived on the island during the prison time period, with the children being ferried over to San Francisco for school each day. I was also unfamiliar with the history of an Indian Occupation of Alcratraz Island from 1969-1971, so I found the video helpful for that explanation. The park rangers have worked with Native Americans to restore some of the spray-painted signs from that time period, so I was curious about the origins of what otherwise appeared to be graffiti. There was also a special exhibit on the Indian Occupation in one of the buildings, but we didn’t have time to check it out.
After watching the video, we decided to join the ranger-led Garden Tour (no extra charge), which gave us more great information about the history of the island and views of a few areas that aren’t normally open to visitors. We didn’t complete the entire Garden Tour due to time constraints, but if you aren’t pressed for time, I’d recommend going on the tour. Several of the photos below were taken during the Garden Tour.
While the exterior and garden areas were interesting, to me the highlight of the visit was without a doubt the Cellhouse Tour. After all, that is what most people come to the island to see. An audio tour is included with the ticket price, so be sure to pick up a headset when you reach the top of the hill and go into the Cellhouse. The audio tour was very well done and tells the stories of former inmates and guards. It gives you a great overview of the Cellhouse and tells some of the prison’s more colorful stories about things like escape attempts and famous inmates like Al Capone. Below are a few photos from inside the Cellhouse, and if you’ve seen Escape from Alcatraz, you’ll understand the one on the right!
We stayed on the island until around 12:30 before catching the ferry back for lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf. The ferries return approximately every half hour, so you can spend as much time as you like on the island. However, there is no food for sale on the island and you’re only allowed to eat near the boat dock, so plan accordingly if you’ll be there through mealtime.
Alcatraz Island offers a window into history and is an unforgettable location. It was a great experience to visit and tour the island. I would recommend it highly if you’re in San Francisco and have time to go.