Alcatraz Parade Ground

View from the bay of the parade grounds with the lighthouse and warden's house.

Alison Taggart-Barone

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

The Parade Grounds are an open area on the south end of Alcatraz that host surprisingly few parades. It's an excellent spot for a selfie with an awesome view of the skyline of San Francisco. Turn around, and you have the lighthouse and warden's residence for a backdrop.

Originally built in the 1860s by the US military for drills and marching, the space later became housing for the correctional officers and their families as well as a playground for their children after the island became a penitentiary. The Parade Grounds were also used for hosting special Officer's Club events.

Today the grounds host annual sunrise ceremonies which celebrate Native American culture and commemorate the 2-year occupation by the Indians of All Tribes. The parade ground is the trailhead for the Alcatraz Agave Trail and is open when the birds are not nesting, from about mid October to mid January.