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When we visited San Francisco earlier this year, we could not miss the chance to see Alcatraz. It's just one of those things you must do there.
Browsing the internet for information, I noticed that Blue&Gold fleet were offering a Night tour to Alcatraz. I thought it might be interesting to see it in a dark setting.
However, depending on the time of the year, this might not be possible as the Ferry returns at 7.50 p.m. and in May (when we were there) the sunset is after 8.00 pm, so as we were getting back, we got to enjoy the sunset from the ferry.
It was very nice to see Alcatraz, but it was always bright on the island.
I guess if you go a bit earlier or much later in the year, you might actually be able to do the actual "night" tour. In any case, it was well worth it.
Tip: Buy your tickets in advance as there are very few chances to get a ticket on the spot .
I got them through the Internet and then printed them out on the self-service machine on the Pier, using the credit card.
The picture was taken from the ferry as we were heading back. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41. http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/html/alcatraz_evening_schedule.htmlWebsite: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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Another great way to enjoy the Bay is to get out on a boat. You can do cruises or jump on a ferry to a destination like Tiburon or Sausalito, but since you're bound to be going to Alcatraz while in the city, enjoy the free scenery en route. Alcatraz itself is a fascinating day trip in its own right and whether you arrive on a foggy or sunny day, you'll be transported back in time to it illustrious past as home to famed criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. As part of the National Park service, it is highly regulated and you're assured of a great value experience. It's best to purchase your tickets from the Blue & Gold booths close to Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf to avoid paying any kind of service fee. The round trip ferry ticket cost $16 but it includes your entrance and an audio headphone tour as well as many ranger activities you can take as you like. It's quite easy to spend an entire day there if you like historical guided walks and you should allow a minimum of four hours for the visit from Wharf to Wharf. Most find it fascinating. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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We spent three hours on Alcatraz and found it very interesting. Be sure to get the self-guided audio tour ($16), as this greatly enhances what you actually see. Our first stop was the video presentation and exhibits in the Civil War-era munitions building. The island was first used as a fortress and military prison. Then it's a hike up to the penitentiary to pick up your headphones and wander around the cellhouse. Don't miss Al Capone's cell, and the cutoff where potential escapees met their fate (bullet holes in the walls, grenade explosion marks on the concrete floors).
The tour doesn't have you stop in the recreation yard - you have to walk back after you've turned in your headset. So pause right after the dining hall part of the tour and step outside to avoid backtracking. There is a door from the recreation yard (why did they have a door? They weren't allowed out...I don't know) that leads out to the other side of the island for a view of the demolished guards' houses. You can also walk around to this part of the island if you turn right after exiting the tour.
After its use as a penitentiary, Alcatraz became surplus property and was seized by American Indians. They lived on the island for 19 months in the 1970s. As a National Park, the island is now home to hundreds of protected seagulls (bring a hat). One man standing in line with us thought that the Park Service was doing the island a disservice by not restoring it (which in fact they have plans to do). I believe it's fitting that the island is returning to a more natural state. The name "Alcatraz" was actually given to honor the island's first inhabitants - the birds.
VERY IMPORTANT: Buy your tickets at least two weeks in advance. We went to Alcatraz in July. Those unlucky tourists who weren't in the know came to buy tickets that day and found none were available until August! Apparently some tour groups have same-day tickets but best not to take chances. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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The Alcatraz tour is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. This tiny "rock" in the middle of San Francisco Bay has had several "lives". First a military fortress, then more famously a prison, then the site of an Indian reclaimation and occupation. Today it's managed by the national park service. Thousands of visitors each day take the Blue and Gold fleet out to the island to take the tours.
Visitors have their choice between a naturalist guided tour (some led by former wardens), or the recorded headset, or simply strolling around on their own. I have taken the first two tours over the years and enjoyed them both. The recorded tour is enhanced by background sounds that make you feel you are walking through the rooms, corridors and into the cells while it was actually a prison.
Wandering around the exercise yard and looking over at the City, it's easy to see how frustrating it might have been to be a resident with one of the world's most amazing views in the world.
Every year the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon begins on "the rock". Hundreds of participants jump into the cold choppy waters and swim to shore. Makes you wonder why no one successfully escaped in the prison years.
Tip: Buy your tickets in advance. The tours are often sold out days in advance and waiting lines are always long. There are days and evening tours. Adult audio tours are $16.00. There are child and senior prices. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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At first, I thought that Alcatraz is one of those "touristy" things that you end up doing, even though you don't want to be "touristy", like Fisherman's Wharf. However, I found Alcatraz to be highly interesting and there is so much more than getting that requisite picture of your hubby behind bars.
Even though you are welcome to wander freely in the park (it is maintained by the National Park Service), take advantage of the audio tour that is narrated by ex-convicts. Alcatraz started as a military fort in 1853, and was known as a prison from the very beginning, but even more so in the 1930's when it became a high-profile maximum security prison. Park wardens also offer extra tours and give insight into many of the areas that aren't covered by the audiio tour. I would recommend at least 3 hours to fully explore Alcatraz. Take note that many of the buildings are in disrepair and you can generally only go into the main cell house for safety reasons. Take snacks and drinks, as they are not available on the island.
Alcatraz is a evolving ecological preserve as well, and there are many native as well as foreign plants that were brought with imported soil. Inmate gardeners planted vegetable and flower gardens and in time the untended plants have taken over slopes and cement walls. As well, parts of Alcatraz are closed during bird breeding season, to help maintain bird population. Leave a Comment Directions: The Blue and Gold Fleet offer ferry service to Alcatraz from their location on Pier 41 on Fisherman's Wharf. They advise advance reservations during the summer.(415-705-5555). There is an extra charge for phone ordersWebsite: www.nps.gov/alcatraz/
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Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It originally served as a lighthouse, then a military fortification, then a military prison, then a Native American peace community, and then a federal penitentiary. Since 1963, it has been a National Historic Landmark.
In addition to natural obstacles -- the island's geographic isolation, the frigid water in the bay, and the strong sea currents – every known security measure was installed in Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to make certain that escape was impossible. Alcatraz became the most secure prison in the world, and James A. Johnston, the warden who was in charge of the institution, was known to be the best in history. While practicing a humanistic approach to reforming criminals, Warden Johnston was in fact a very strict disciplinarian. His rules of conduct were among the most rigid in the correctional system, and harsh punishments were given to inmates who broke even the minutest regulation.
Thirty-four prisoners were involved in 14 escape attempts during Alcatraz's 29 years of history. Only five prisoners were unaccounted for at the end. Three of them were involved in the famous feat that was later portrayed in the movie, Escape from Alcatraz. The three prisoners disappeared from their cells on June 11, 1962. Official report stated that the prisoners drowned while trying to reach the mainland, but several simulated tests that were conducted years later all proved that escape was indeed possible. The actual fate of the escapees remains unknown and a $1,000,000 reward remains unclaimed even to this day.
Robert “Birdman” Stroud and mafia boss Al Capone were two of the most famous inmates in Alcatraz. Leave a Comment Directions: There is no entrance fee to the island, but ferry service is needed. Ferry tickets can be purchased online with many tour companies, or in person at Pier 39.
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The main corridor of the cellhouse was christened "Broadway" by the inmates. The cells seem endless and stacked 3 high. You can even see Frank Morris's cell, including dummies for a realistic experience and the grate, which according to legend, he had chipped away with a spoon.
It is a eerie feeling to walk the corridors at night after the sun has gone down. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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A "must see" San Francisco attraction. The boat ride to this former high-security prison provides excellent views of Alcatraz Island. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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Alcatraz is an enjoyable attraction that is rich in history. The Rock is most famous for its use as a prison, but the history of the island is far more extensive. It housed the first lighthouse on the West Coast. It served as a Civil War era garrison and defended the bay with over 100 cannons. When the fortress became obsolete, the military continued to use the site as a military prison. Eventually in 1934 it became a maximum-security federal penitentiary that welcomed guests like Al Capone. The prison closed in 1963 due to the high operational costs. Only one person was known to have escaped, and he was captured clinging to a rock at Fort Point below the Golden Gate Bridge. One escape attempt was immortalized in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film “Escape from Alcatraz.” The actual prisoners whose story the film was based upon were never found, but were believed to have drowned in the attempt. After the prison closed it became abandoned. In 1969, a group of Native American protesters seized and occupied the island. The occupation lasted until 1971. After the occupation, the island was again abandoned. But now Alcatraz is administered by the National Park Service.
You need to arrive by ferry. You can wander about the island. The cellhouse tour is self guided, but they give you an audio player and headphones that lead you around the old cells, complete with narrative from former guards and inmates. The views from Alcatraz are fantastic.
If you have ever wondered where seagulls come from you can find out on Alcatraz. The island, with no native predators, is a natural breading ground for the birds. When I visited, mother seagulls nesting with their young were abundant on the island.
The tours are only available through Hornblower Cruises. It is imperative that you purchase your tickets IN ADVANCE as the tours sell out. You can purchase tickets on-line, in person at the ticket office at Pier 33, or by phone. Phone: (415) 981-7625Directions: The dock for the ferry service is located at Pier 33 on The Embarcadero and is well served by the historic F-Line streetcars. Web site for Ferry Service: http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/Website: http://www.nps.gov/alca/
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The rich history of Alcatraz during the penitentiary years and many of the inmates who called "the Rock" home. From the mid-1930s until the mid-1960s, Alcatraz was America's premier maximum-security prison, the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible inmates. Today, Alcatraz is a place of contradictions, with a grim past and an enduring future as one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions.
the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. The island offers a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison. Visitors can explore the remnants of the prison, and learn about the Native American occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse.
Alcatraz tour boat leaves from Fisherman's Wharf. Order tickets ahead of time (Internet reservations are not available). There is often a very long wait and trips are sometimes sold out for the entire day.The Alcatraz tour is self-guided and visitors rent a personal headset with recorded tour information. Day tours start at $24.50 and Night tours at $ 31.50 Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz Other Contact: (415) 981-7625
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