We booked Alcatraz cruise tickets before we left home, we are so glad we did. The queues for the tickets on the day were really long, and it would have taken hours to get a boat.We took a taxi from the hotel ($US12) and walked around the wharf looking at all the information boards about Alcatraz Island.
There was not a queue for our boat as yet. The wharf has a small cafe, but that was packed so we filled in the time looking at the displays.
The boat we went on.
Once we arrived we were met by a park ranger who told us a little about the history of Alcatraz Island. We didn't know much about the history of the island, other than it was a famous gaol.
However, it is believed the island was used by the local indigenous people, and in the 1850's was used as a prison for soldiers.
The army handed the island over to the civilians prison in 1934, and was converted into a maximum-security penitentiary - the most famous in the United States.
It is now like a living museum.
The prison was closed in 1963 and in November 1969 American Indians of many tribes returned to the island and claimed it as Indian Land. The protest lasted for 18 months until June 1971 when the last occupiers were removed.
There are still many signs left from that occupation.
After walking around the base of the island and up the hill looking at the artefacts and many many baby birds, we got to the cells.
This is where tourists are given headphones in their own language, and we did our own self guided tour.
It was very quiet as everyone walked around listening to their headphones.
The Exercise Yard, where prisoner's not in solitary were allowed out for one hour each day.
There is a little yard at the top near the communication and staff rooms that overlooked the staff quarters
and had a magnificent view of San Francisco.
Along the tour there were many cells that one could go in and feel how cramped they were.
The daily menu - 21 March 1963
The now empty prisoner mess hall
- the last stop of the tour.
The view from the boat,
the cell block are the building at the top.
The lower building was the staff facilities and infirmary.
We didn't visit Alcatraz on out last visit to San Francisco, but we are so glad we went there this time.
We would highly recommend it.
Danny Kaye
A very interesting tour by the look of it - someplace we would like to go to as well.
ReplyDeleteIt always pays to prebook doesn't it. We booked for the London Eye and Madam Tussards in London before we left home, so were taken straight to the "pre-booked" gateway, bypassing all the crowds.
That it dies Jenny. I try t o pre book everything before we leave home - makes the trip so much easier.
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