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 Alcatraz
Tour San Francisco
Location: Pier 39 and a half, San Francisco
Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island
of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life
for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, Indian, bird or plant - is a recurrent
theme in the unfolding
history of Alcatraz.
Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations,
offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits
to the public. Visitors to the island cannot only explore the remnants of the prison,
but can also learn about the Indian occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications
(the first U.S. fort
on the coast), and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating)
lighthouse.
These structures and the island's many natural features - gardens, tide pools, bird
colonies, and bay views beyond compare - are being preserved by the National Park
Service which is working to make it accessible to visitors, preserve its buildings,
protect its birds and other wildlife, and interpret its history.
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