From Fisherman's Wharf I joined a cruise over to Alcatraz [29]. The Rock is only a stone's throw away from the Wharf. For a long time, it was considered to be the most feared and the most secure of the US Federal prisons. The cruise over to Alcatraz took about 10 minutes. As we approached the island, the lighthouse, the Warden's house (the badly dilapidated building) and the cell block (peach-coloured building) came into view [30]. The barracks (large building in foreground) came into view as the boat came around to dock at Alcatraz [31].

  • [29] Alcatraz
  • [30] Alcatraz Wardens' House
  • [31] Alcatraz Barracks

Today was obviously a very popular day for visitors. The dock was packed with people. There are a number of ways to explore Alcatraz. Some people prefer to wander around on their own. Others joined a ranger-led tour of the place, while I prefered to take a self-guided audio tour. I think the ranger-led tours would have been very interesting but I was pressed for time.

Alcatraz gained its infamy for the "guests" it accommodated here. One Alcatraz alumnus is the Chicago gangster. Al "Scarface" Capone. The cell block was not a very large building but it held many cells in three floors [32, 33, 34]. Inmates were afforded small luxuries such as a recreation yard [35].

  • [32] Alcatraz Cell Blocks
  • [33] Alcatraz Cell Blocks
  • [34] Alcatraz Cell Block
  • [35] Recreation Yard

The Alcatraz tour is definitely not for everyone but I found it very interesting. The violence of its past was clearly evident in many places inside the cellblocks. Pockmarks from a violent escape attempt are still visible where the military had to put down the inmate uprising by dropping grenades into the building, killing those involved. This tale was recounted in the movie, Escape from Alcatraz.

  • [36] View of Golden Gate Bridge
  • [37] View of San Francisco from Alcatraz

The location of the prison was psychologically tormenting to its inmates because of its proximity to San Francisco. Photo 36 is view of Golden Gate Bridge from inside the cell block.  

The island also affords a magnificent panorama of the San Francisco skyline [37]. The most prominent building is the Transamerica Pyramid, the tallest building in SF. To its left, the Coit Tower sitting on top of Telegraph Hill can be seen. This tower is shaped as a firehose nozzle because the benefactor (Coit) was once rescued by firemen when she was a young girl.