Alcatraz Island (U.S. National Park Service)

QUICKLINKS:

Overview

Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the 18 month occupation by Indians of All Tribes which saved the tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.

Photo: Eadweard Muybridge, Bancroft Library of the US Army post on Alcatraces.

The Historic Gardens of Alcatraz

In 2003, the Garden Conservancy and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy formed a partnership with the National Park Service to restore and maintain key gardens on Alcatraz. Through the Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project, the partner organizations preserve, rebuild, and maintain the gardens created by those who lived on the island during its military and prison eras, and interpret their history, horticulture, and cultural significance for visitors. Visit the new The Gardens of Alcatraz website at www.alcatrazgardens.org.

Museum Collections at the Rock

This online exhibit features the extensive collections from Alcatraz Island. Collections include objects made by notorious inmates, historic photographs and documents, escape materials and inmate artwork; items used by officers including correctional materials when Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary from 1934–1963; military prison period materials from 1859–1934; and the American Indian occupation of 1969–1971. Go to the Museum Collections website to visit this online exhibit.

		Indians of All Tribes In the 1800s American Indian prisoners were often held at the military prison on Alcatraz. In 1964, a year after the penitentiary closed, and again in 1969, Alcatraz was claimed by American Indians, changing the course of U.S. history by helping to establish tribal rights of self determination. This year is the 40th anniversary of the history making occupation by Indians of All Tribes. An award winning video/exhibit, WE HOLD THE ROCK, shows daily on Alcatraz Island in an exhibit area near the dock.

Alcatraz inmate band playing during Christmas dinner.

Radio Free Alcatraz

Coming soon to an ear near you (via the Internet) - it's RADIO FREE ALCATRAZ. We are putting the finishing touches on our audio program and hope to have it available as a podcast in the very near future. You don't need a portable media player, you can listen to a rough edit of our first episode by clicking on the title.

Write to

Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Fort Mason, B201
San Francisco, CA 94123

E-mail Us

Phone

Ranger Station
(415) 561-4900

Ferry Tickets/Reservations
(415) 981-7625

Fax

(415) 705-1050

Climate

Alcatraz can be windy and cool, warm and clear, and wet (fog and rain) most any time of year - even on the same day! We recommended wearing layers as conditions can change quickly.

In general summers tend to be cool and foggy, winters cool and rainy, but nice days can happen any time of year.

"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

(While usually attributed to Mark Twain, the actual source of these words of wisdom is unknown - there is no evidence that Mark Twain ever said this.)