SEEING THE ISLAND

Alcatraz Island is one of the parks’ most popular destinations; daily tours (Alcatraz is open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s day) offer a close-up look at this former federal prison. Visitors to the island can not only explore the remnants of the prison, but also learn about the Native American occupation of 1969-1971, early military fortifications, and the West Coast's first and oldest operating lighthouse. The island also features gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and spectacular bay views.

TIPS FOR VISITORS

• Transportation to Alcatraz is via ferryboats departing from Pier 33. The ferry trip lasts approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Once on the island, you may take any available ferry back to San Francisco; during the day ferries depart the island approximately every 45 minutes. Detailed schedules are posted throughout Alcatraz.
  
• A round-trip visit typically takes between two and three hours. Reservations are essential, especially in the busy summer season; tickets can be purchased in advance by phone at (415) 981-7625 and on-line with a major credit card.
• Be prepared for steep climbs and uneven walking surfaces; the roadway from the dock area to the cellhouse is a 12 percent grade. An accessibility tram is available for those unable to navigate this incline.

ALCATRAZ ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS

Lighthouse
Alcatraz was the home of the West Coast’s first lighthouse. Equipped with a simple oil lamp, the Alcatraz light began guiding ships through the narrow entrance to the bay in 1854. In 1909, when construction of the cellhouse threatened to block the light beam to the north, the old lighthouse was replaced with the 84-foot tower seen on the island today. The tower’s automated rotating light, supplemented by powerful foghorns on either side of the island, continues to be a key navigational aid.

The Gardens of Alcatraz
Military and prison personnel transformed portions of the Alcatraz landscape from barren sandstone rock to gardens of lush leaves and colorful blossoms. Undaunted by the harsh environment , the people of Alcatraz chipped away at the rock; importing topsoil to plant flowers, vegetables, trees, and other greenery. Gardening proved to be such a popular pastime that guards and their families formed a special gardening association. Once the prison closed in 1963, the neglected gardens became overgrown and wild. Today, through the efforts of dedicated volunteers, the Garden Conservancy is partnering with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to bring the gardens back to life! Visit the island to see a host of truly unique plant varieties no longer commercially available! For information about the gardens, visit www.alcatrazgardens.org. Or, to learn more about supporting historic garden restoration on Alcatraz Island, click here.

Island Walks and Bay Vistas
A walk around Alcatraz can be a breathtaking experience. The island is one of the bay’s best vista points, a place surrounded by mountains, bridges, ships, and skylines. The most spectacular views can be seen from the Agave Trail (open approximately October through February, when the birds aren’t nesting), the parade ground, and the lighthouse plaza. Apart from the 360-degree panorama of the bay, a walk on Alcatraz takes you along rocky cliffs, past colonies of western gull nests, and through areas overgrown with exotic flowers and trees.

Exhibits, Theater, Bookstores
In the barracks building just above the Alcatraz dock, you can browse exhibits see a video presentation and buy maps, guides, cards, and books about Alcatraz. There is a bookstore and exhibit at the dock level as well as a museum store in the former kitchen food preparation area of the cellhouse.

Sally Port and Fortress Alcatraz
The oldest extant structure on the island, the sally port, dates to the 1850s when Alcatraz was fortified by the US Army. Walking through this early guardhouse, it is easy to imagine the impressive drawbridge that once spanned its dry moat. At the dock, look for Building 64, Fortress Alcatraz’s original barracks building. This large structure now houses exhibits, a bookstore, and a theater. Other relics of the island’s military past include a parade ground, the ruins of officers’ cottages, and the first floor of the original military citadel (an inaccessible maze under the cellhouse).