When it comes to some unusual travel destinations, can you imagine a former prison turning into a popular tourist spot?
Alcatraz, once a prison used to incarcerate serious offenders, was also known as one of the most brutal prisons in the U.S. Its English name is Alcatraz Island.
Before 1907, this small island was mainly used as a military fortress. However, over time, its function gradually diminished, and from 1934 to 1963, it became a federal prison for housing major criminals and escapees. 
However, due to the high maintenance costs, the prison ceased operations in 1963.
Why Alcatraz Island?
What’s there to visit in a prison?
At this point, you might be wondering this too.
The name Alcatraz sounds mysterious enough, and have you seen the movie “The Rock” starring Nicolas Cage? That’s here.
I’ve visited San Francisco several times before but never found the time to go; this time, I finally had the chance, which felt like checking off a destination from my childhood movie list.
This island, once home to America’s most notorious prison, has now become a popular destination for tourists to explore history and is part of the National Park System.
How to Get to Alcatraz Island
To visit Alcatraz Island, you need to take a boat from Pier 33 at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. If you’re not visiting during peak season, you can buy tickets on-site. If you’re worried about tickets being sold out, you can purchase them at cityexperiences.com.
Regular tickets offer two options: a day tour and a night tour. The day tour ticket costs over $40, while the night tour ticket is over $50.
The boat ticket includes the return trip, but don’t miss the last ferry back!
What I mentioned earlier was the standard ticket; there’s also a “Behind The Scenes” tour ticket which allows access to areas not typically open to regular visitors.
Although managed by the National Park Service, you can’t use a National Park annual pass, which shows how prices in the U.S. aren’t exactly cheap these days.
The duration of your visit to Alcatraz Island is entirely up to you, mainly depending on your interest in history and architecture. For most people, half a day is sufficient.
Of course, if your hotel is near the pier and you’re not in a rush, visiting Alcatraz at night provides a very immersive experience.
The journey starts with boarding the ferry. As it slowly departs from the pier, the city’s hustle and bustle fades away, replaced by the ripples on the water and the cries of seagulls in the distance.
You can even see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island in the same frame.
The 30-minute boat ride isn’t too long, and as the ferry approaches, the desolate and mysterious rocky cliffs of Alcatraz come into view.
What to Do on Alcatraz Island
Upon arrival at the site, visitors can pick up an audio guide at the entrance, following the red signs for the Audio Tour, with Chinese narration for a better experience.
Although it’s a bustling tourist destination, stepping onto Alcatraz still brings a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
The main building of Alcatraz is a three-story prison, each floor filled with small, dark cells. Each cell has three walls, an iron door, a narrow bed, and a toilet.
Cells are separated by sturdy iron bars to prevent direct contact between inmates. If an inmate misbehaved, they would be placed in a pitch-black isolation cell with very limited space.
It’s just like what you’ve seen in movies.
To ensure the prison’s security, the building is surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, equipped with a tight surveillance system and armed guards. These security measures made Alcatraz one of the most escape-proof prisons in America at the time.
The island is surrounded by water, and the cold water temperatures caused by the significant temperature differences between day and night in Northern California successfully trapped even those who could swim.
Back then, many escape attempts were made by swimming away, but the chilling waters of Northern California at night were unimaginably cold. Most didn’t drown or get caught; they died from the cold while swimming.
Because of this, escaping from Alcatraz was extremely difficult. However, in 1962, three men meticulously planned and executed an incredibly daring escape. They dug through the walls bit by bit with spoons, eventually creating a large hole.
To escape, they even made a 4.2-meter-long raft out of 50 raincoats and glue. On the night of their escape, they used paper to create fake heads placed under the blankets, successfully fooling the guards on patrol.
Now, many parts of Alcatraz prison can be visited, including the inmates’ cells, dining hall, library, and yard.
Alcatraz’s history is not just about prisoners and prisons; it also witnesses the evolution of the American justice system and changes in societal attitudes towards prisoners.
Of course, Alcatraz is not just a historical cage; it’s also a treasure trove of natural ecology. After the prison closed, the island gradually returned to nature, becoming a habitat for many wild animals.
Walking around the island, you can see seagulls and cormorants soaring through the air, creating a stark contrast with the island’s historical ruins, allowing one to feel the power of life and the inclusiveness of nature.
As the sun sets, we boarded the return ferry. The creative souvenirs here are also interesting, like the escape spoons, guard keys, and prisoner cups. I bought a cup.
Looking back at Alcatraz, it’s not just a tourist spot; it’s living history.
Indeed, although Alcatraz Prison has been abandoned and turned into a tourist attraction, these buildings still retain their original appearance and historical traces, telling visitors the legendary stories of its past.
If you’re also curious about this piece of history, why not take a look when you visit San Francisco?
