Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island

Tim and I have been to San Francisco countless times, but never to Alcatraz Island. Known as "The Rock," Alcatraz served as a military base during the Civil War and then, more infamously, as a federal prison for the most notorious criminals, including Al Capone. The prison closed in 1963. Today the island is a national park, accessible only by ferry—a very hard ticket to get, by the way. Luckily we were on a Disney tour, otherwise we would have had to return the following Thursday!

The prison was fascinating to see. But even better were the gardens, left over from the prison employee families who lived on the island. The contrast between the stark concrete prison and the beautiful spring blooms was spectacular.

Prison entry

Watchtower

 Staircase up to cells

 Gardens on east side

Remnants from American Indian occupation in the 

late 1960s/early 70s

Tower

 Cells (exterior)

Cells (interior)

Cells side-by-side

Inside a cell, including escape hole in wall

 Looking from inside out

Spiral staircase

Ruins of the warden's home

 Gardens

Beauty vs despair

Gardens: home to wild egrets

 The view from the island: San Francisco and the Disney Wonder

(on left)