Welcome To Alcatraz!
This legendary shot of a prison guard at Alcatraz is haunting – a solitary guard watching over some of America’s worst criminals, housed on a “rock” in San Francisco Bay – and guess what – this shocking headline has put it back in the news!
“Trump says he will reopen ‘enlarged and rebuilt’ Alcatraz prison”
Yes, another day and another ludicrous idea from the President Of The United States. This very popular tourist attraction hasn’t been used as a penitentiary for decades, and it makes ZERO sense to try and re-open it!
Alcatraz Island hasn’t been used as a federal penitentiary since 1963. It had a capacity of roughly 300 people. Reports say that Trump thinks it can be used to house illegal immigrants, but the cost for so few people is insane…just another embarrassing idea from him.
Note that there is no fresh water source, the saltwater and mist corrodes quickly, there is no permanent electrical source and it would be madness to try and restore it for any real purpose! One of the other controversial actions from the President has been to gut the funding and staffing for the US National Park Service – which generated hundreds of millions of dollars in profit every year!
That includes Alcatraz Island, which is a hugely popular tourist destination – and you can see it up close!
Welcome to “The Rock!”
Yes, America’s most notorious prison is open to the public – and is located in one of the most unique place imaginable – on a rock in the middle of San Francisco bay!
Alcatraz is fascinating to me – and the subject of many great films like “Escape From Alcatraz” with Clint Eastwood and “Birdman Of Alcatraz” with Burt Lancaster!
One of the great action films of the 90’s is “The Rock” with Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery, shot on the rock itself!
Now, you can tour the island where the prison is located – and wander through the cellblocks as well!
Once you board, it’s a windy crossing, but you get the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, the city and the island as well – so much to see! Take a look:
As we took the very windy ferry to the island, here are some facts to share:
Alcatraz Island is just a mile offshore from the heart of downtown San Francisco, since it is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The island was a military prison in 1868, then it was turned into a federal prison in 1934. After almost thirty years housing some of America’s worst criminals, it was finally closed permanently in 1963.
In 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and was made a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
As you will see from this video, it’s a windy ride across the bay, with the Golden Gate bridge easily visible in the distance!
You will hear that it is VERY WINDY on the ride over, so bundle up!
Here what it’s like to travel across the bay to the island:
It’s a truly spectacular trip on a sunny day – if you want to go, you MUST get your tickets online well in advance as it’s always sold out!
Welcome to “The Rock!”
You arrive through an abandoned corridor, but this actually helps with the mystique of the place – and there are a ton of great signs that tell you all about the prison:
The tour is well-organized, and you end up exactly where you want to be: on cellblock row, where the inmates lived!
Here’s some video to show you just how cramped these cells are:
The best part is they have several still “dressed” as if lived in, and they let you inside a few as well!
Imagine living for 20-30 years in this space! Of course, my wife Alex and I got the obligatory “let me out of here Warden!” shot!
They have other areas open as well, and lots of vintage pictures of life in the prison – and if you feel “locked up”, you can just go outside and look back at San Francisco!
Imagine being housed there for years – and always seeing the city so close, yet so far away! A recent story suggested that the only inmates who escaped from the island might not have drowned, but actually made it to shore!
Heading away from the island, you can see the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate bridge and sailboats in the bay.
It takes 15 minutes by ferry from San Francisco’s Pier 33 – and as I said, you MUST get advance tickets.
Of course, since you are right there, head a few blocks away to pier 39 and see some seals – lots and lots of seals!
You are literally just a few feet away from hundreds of seals – and yes, it smells like it too!
Here’s how they sound:
You can see more of my story about the seals here:
If you are in San Francisco, you must go to a few of their legendary restaurants, including the “House Of Prime Rib!”
The food is great, and wait until you see it sliced up table side!
Clips and the entire menu at my “all food all the time” blog “Bite! Eat! Repeat!”
And if you are up for a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, head north to see the edge of the world!
This is Pt. Reyes, and it is indeed the edge of the world – on California’s “wild coast!”
See more pictures and videos here:
If you enjoy these posts, PLEASE CLICK “LIKE” BELOW SO I KNOW!
All shouting aside, why not subscribe and never miss out? It’s easy, and there are NO ads of any kind, just stuff I like to share…click on the main page and “follow” me on the upper right…
I you like this story, please share with friends on social media – thanks!
Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Real Estate, The President Of The United States, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Hahaha! I had not heard this one. Of course, it’s hard to be surprised at anything he suggests. After all, he’s the same one who wants to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” make Canada the 51st state, and take over Greenland.
By the way, I’ve enjoyed that tour to Alcatraz twice. Perhaps you should run a feature on The Birdman of Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great point…I will give that film a rewatch – makes for a great double bill with “Con Air” as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
John – thanks for this! The best photo series of the place I have seen! Have been to SF and seen the island across the water but never visited. Shall repost later in the day – methinks other friends would like the pictorial info. What a ghastly place in which to pay for one’s shortcomings!!! And don’t mention about the latest craziness associated with it!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the comment!
LikeLike
just another insane idea of course! I’ve always wanted to visit, love the history, the stories, the films. I’m doubting this will ever come to fruition, like many of this other hare-brained schemes. and then of course, his recent 100% tariff of films shot outside of our country! good luck with that! (after talking to one of his Hollywood ambassadors, John Voight, who he described as ‘talking to the experts).) Since the pushback, he’s backed off on this too, luckily
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our world gets crazier and crazier, and NOT what anyone signed up for…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alcatraz is part of our nation’s history and interesting to visit. But it was closed mainly because it was too expensive to operate. So it’s another lame idea, just for show and deflection against worse things going on. I doubt it will happen, but then who knows? 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can’t make this stuff up! So off the wall. Ugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dumb ass idea….after all we have a fully functioning almost empty prison….GITMO chuq
LikeLiked by 1 person
He just says whatever comes into his head, like some deranged emperor from Ancient Rome. No doubt he will soon be signing an EO, to “Make it so”.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Pete…we are so embarrassed, and for an one who says we elected him remember he won by less than 1.5% of the vote, and by people who didn’t want a black woman running the country and said to in their exit interviews….sadly backwards here to be sure
LikeLiked by 1 person