Are Alcatraz Island tours sold out on your desired tour date? Join the Bay Discovery Cruise:
Sail the Bay and see the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Sausalito, Fort Point, and more!
Experience the many moods of Alcatraz Island with an evening visit. Enjoy the beauty of a sunset silhouetting the Golden Gate Bridge, experience a cell door demonstration, and hear compelling stories about the Island’s history and residents.
Enjoy access to Alcatraz Island, including the historic Alcatraz Cellhouse with the self-guided Cellhouse Audio Tour.
Discover areas not otherwise available to the public! Join a group of 30 people or fewer on a guided 1.5-2 hour adventure to explore off-limits areas and hear little-known-stories about the Island’s fascinating past, then join the Alcatraz Night Tour (including Cellhouse Audio Tour) for a full evening’s experience.
Alcatraz City Cruises Celebrates 60th Anniversary of the Most Infamous Escape in History
On June 11th, take a trip to “The Rock” and experience tours of the famed San Francisco landmark on this special milestone of the anniversary of the most infamous prison
The Best Places to See the Sunset in San Francisco (when there’s no fog)
One of the greatest treats the San Francisco Bay Area offers is panoramic views of some spectacular sunsets. Although no city is perfect, San Francisco is pretty darn close, especially
3 Days in San Francisco
Celebrated for its hilly streets, moody fog, famous bridge, and buzzing nightlife, the City by the Bay offers a lot of fun under the sun. It’s hard to know where
When (and Why) did Alcatraz Close?
The Alcatraz prison closed its doors on March 21, 1963. The prison had been open for twenty-nine years before shutting down. However, you can still visit Alcatraz Island for tours.
60th Anniversary of the Closure of Alcatraz
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Alcatraz Escape from the namesake island (also known as “The Rock”) located in San Francisco. As one of, if not the most
5 Fun Facts About Alcatraz Island (You Probably Didn’t Know)
Developed in the mid-1800s as a military base equipped with the West Coast’s first lighthouse, Alcatraz Island was eventually converted into the now-infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1934. After the
Best Time to Visit Alcatraz
Alcatraz, initially named Isla De Alcatraces, or the island of the Pelicans- rarely has any pelicans! The name was meant for Yerba Buena Island but ironically someone had difficulties with
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Alcatraz Opening as a Public Park
From its storied past as a military fort and island prison to its incredible variety of wildlife and spectacular views, the National Landmark has a lot to offer. About a
Anglin Brothers Escape from Alcatraz Prison
If you were to gather a group of National Park Rangers who work on Alcatraz and ask them to write down the most common questions they receive, you could probably
Alcatraz City Cruises Announces Spring Tour Offerings Including Extended Hours And First-ever Island Scavenger Hunt
Experience “The Rock” this summer with guided tours of the famed San Francisco landmark, community day celebrations, commemorative anniversaries, and a special scavenger hunt with the chance to win $200!
Alcatraz History
Alcatraz and history go hand in hand
Once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to “The Rock”. The presence of infamous inmates, like Al “Scarface” Capone and the “Birdman” Robert Stroud, helped to establish the Island’s notoriety. Yet, many people are unaware of the historical significance before and after it was one of the world’s most legendary prisons.
The 20th Century
Civil War-era buildings, cannons, and subterranean rooms give insight into the 19th century when the Island served as both a harbor defense fort and a military prison. As you dock at Alcatraz Island, visible reminders of the American Indian Occupation, which began in 1969 and ended in 1971, remains etched on “The Rock”, recognizing an important milestone in the American Indian rights movement.
