Alcatraz Island, located in the mists off of San Francisco, received its name in 1775 when the Spanish explorers charted San Francisco bay.  Alcatraz lighthouse, the first lighthouse built on the Pacific Coast, was completed and lit for the first time in the summer of 1853, and a fog bell, rung by hand, was added in 1856.  Alcatraz was used as a federal maximum security prison from 1934 until 1963, when it was closed due to high costs and security issues.  Alcatraz was considered a perfect area to house a prison due to fierce currents and the icy cold waters it was supposed to be inescapable.  To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons.  Most people know that Alcatraz was once a world-famous federal penitentiary, but the island’s history before and after the penitentiary era is less well known.  The earliest recorded owner of the island of Alcatraz is one Julian Workman, who was given it by Mexican governor Pio Pico in 1846 with the understanding he would construct a lighthouse on it.  Instead the army switched the focus of its plans for Alcatraz from coastal defence to detention, a task for which it was well suited because of its isolation.  Many people are familiar with the Alcatraz Island Prison from movies made about it including Birdman of Alcatraz and Escape from Alcatraz.  Officially, no one ever succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners listed as "missing and presumed drowned.  During the 1920’s, Alcatraz gradually fell into disuse.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most popular visitor attractions and its tours frequently sell out a week or more in advance.  Alcatraz Island had been privately owned when the War Department bought it because of its strategic location.  Most people know that Alcatraz was once a world-famous federal penitentiary, but the island’s history before and after the penitentiary era is less well known.  The earliest recorded owner of the island of Alcatraz is one Julian Workman, who was given it by Mexican governor Pio Pico in 1846 with the understanding he would construct a lighthouse on it.  The prison population at Alcatraz was made up of inmates who had histories of unmanageable behavior or escape attempts, and high-profile inmates who had been receiving special privileges because of their public status.  There was a ratio of one guard to every three prisoners on Alcatraz, as compared with other prisons, in which the ratio exceeded one guard to every twelve inmates, a measure which was meant to prevent the prisoners from trying to escape.  A view of Alcatraz is often used in an establishing shot of films and television shows set in San Francisco.  Today, Alcatraz is a place of contradictions, with a grim past and an enduring future as one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions.  When you visit Alcatraz Island be prepared for the one-quarter of a mile hike to the top or take the shuttle which makes a trip every hour to carry visitors up the slope.

In summer months and on holiday weekends, Alcatraz sells out as early as a week to 10 days in advance.  Note that if you are purchasing Alcatraz tickets from any other online vendor you are likely paying a substantial service charge for them to book your tickets for you through Alcatraz Cruises.