Coit Tower
Bay Bridge
Arriving at the Island
Historical Items
Pausing along the tour for a photo of a beautiful day!
In front of the Admin Building
Administrative Building/Duty
Guard Tower
CELL LIFE
Space Behind the Cells (Used in the actual Escape From Alcatraz)
Broadway, Michigan Avenue, Park Avenue
The prisoners kept their humor about them as they served their time, giving each hallway between the blocks nicknames. The hallway in the center was named Broadway, and the other two were named Michigan Avenue and Park Avenue. The area that sat between the mess hall and the blocks was named Times Square. At the opposite end of the cell blocks was what prisoners called the “gun gallery.” It was given this name due to the guards that would stroll the many walkways, all armed and ready to take shot at any prisoner who caused too much trouble or tried to escape.
Warden's House
During the nineteen months and nine days of Native American occupation, several buildings were damaged or destroyed by fire, including the recreation hall, the Coast Guard quarters and the Warden's home. The origins of the fires are unknown. The U.S. government demolished a number of other buildings (mostly apartments) after the occupation had ended. Graffiti from the period of Native American occupation are still visible at many locations on the island.
Warden's Office
Recreation Yard
Looking Down From Recreation Yard Area
Visitation:
1946 Escape Attempt: The Battle of Alcatraz
Visitation:
1946 Escape Attempt: The Battle of Alcatraz
Scars from the "Battle of Alcatraz" can still be seen on the floor.
Prison Library
Solitary "THE HOLE"
Famous Inmates
DINING HALL - Considered the most dangerous place!
Prison Library
Solitary "THE HOLE"
Famous Inmates
DINING HALL - Considered the most dangerous place!
move closure
The Prison Morgue
The Children of Alzatraz
The Prison Morgue
The Children of Alzatraz
The Alcatraz Prison Closure - 1963
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS AND FLOWERS
Alcatraz is, and has always been, a seagull Mecca - an island virtually adrift in baby seagull fluff during fledgling season.
Long before Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary, long before it was a military prison, long before it was a Civil War fortress, Alcatraz belonged to the birds.
Early explorers described it as a rock painted white with guano. Today, it remains a haven for bird life - black-crowned night herons, great egrets, brown pelicans, mallards, western gulls, cormorants. And, a surprise to most of the some 1.3 million who annually visit the Rock in the San Francisco Bay.
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS AND FLOWERS
Alcatraz is, and has always been, a seagull Mecca - an island virtually adrift in baby seagull fluff during fledgling season.
Long before Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary, long before it was a military prison, long before it was a Civil War fortress, Alcatraz belonged to the birds.
Early explorers described it as a rock painted white with guano. Today, it remains a haven for bird life - black-crowned night herons, great egrets, brown pelicans, mallards, western gulls, cormorants. And, a surprise to most of the some 1.3 million who annually visit the Rock in the San Francisco Bay.