Between 1934 and 1963, the name Alcatraz uttered in a courtroom was enough to make a grown man cry. Even today, viewing it from the mainland, the image of this austere island fortress conjures up images of bleak isolation. “The Rock” as it is known, was the federal prison home to some of America’s most dangerous criminals, including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Shroud (the birdman of Alcatraz) and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, who spent more time in Alcatraz than any other prisoner.
This 8.9-hectare island is located in San Francisco Bay and can be accessed by a 15-minute ferry ride from Pier 33 at the Embarcadero. The cost of the round trip ticket includes a cell house audio tour. On the island, you can take a free tour with one of the National Park volunteers or guides, or you can pick up a brochure at the ferry point and make your own way round.
Visit the island in the knowledge that you are free to roam, unlike its former inmates. During your tour, you’ll pass through prison cellblocks that once held some of the world’s most notorious criminals, into the walled exercise yard where you’ll see just how close San Francisco seems. This apparent proximity tempted prisoners to make a bid for freedom across the 2.4 kilometre stretch of cold, hazardous water.
During its austere 29 years of operation, 36 people attempted to escape. Six were killed while fleeing, 23 were caught and the rest are presumed to have fallen victim to the icy waters and treacherous currents.
In 1962, three inmates managed to dig through their cell walls using crude materials including spoons. They left lifelike dummies of themselves in their beds to act as decoys. Presumably they made a swim for the mainland but their bodies were never found. A year after the escape, the prison closed.
You can stay on the Rock until the last ferry of the day departs at 4.25 p.m. Set aside around two to three hours for a tour. This is a popular sightseeing destination, especially in summer, so it’s best to buy your ferry tickets in advance.
