ALCATRAZ ISLAND (credit: alcatrazcruises.com) One of the most interesting places I have ever visited is Alcatraz "The Rock" in San Francisco. During my first trip to San Francisco back in 1993 with my friend Lauren, it was the first time for each of us to venture to this island prison.
The visit was rather disturbing and the experience was rather unnerving as the ferry got closer to "The Rock" and further from the San Francisco dock. A feeling of isolation was palpable for me as the hustle-bustle and crowd-filled view of the city became smaller and smaller in the distance as we traversed towards Alcatraz in the middle of the bay.
Located one and one-half miles away off-shore from the City by the Bay, Alcatraz functioned as a maximum security Federal penitentiary from August, 1934 to March, 1963.
The visit was rather disturbing and the experience was rather unnerving as the ferry got closer to "The Rock" and further from the San Francisco dock. A feeling of isolation was palpable for me as the hustle-bustle and crowd-filled view of the city became smaller and smaller in the distance as we traversed towards Alcatraz in the middle of the bay.
Located one and one-half miles away off-shore from the City by the Bay, Alcatraz functioned as a maximum security Federal penitentiary from August, 1934 to March, 1963.
 ON FERRY TOWARDS ALCATRAZ - ALCATRAZ IN THE BACKGROUND. |  ME AND FRIEND, LAUREN ON ALCATRAZ FERRY WITH VIEW OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SKYLINE IN THE BACKGROUND |
It was originally a United States Army military prison, with the main prison building being built during the years 1910-1912. Prior to this time, Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860's.
Then, in October of 1933, the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the U.S. Department of Justice and became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after the buildings were configured to meet the requirements of a modern security prison.
Then, in October of 1933, the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the U.S. Department of Justice and became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after the buildings were configured to meet the requirements of a modern security prison.
 PRISONER CELL |  VIEW OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CELL |
Upon arrival to the island we were able to walk around the grounds before entering the then prison. The tour of the prison was a self-guided one, which provided history, life inside Alcatraz and stories of famous inmates, which include Al Capone, George "Machine-Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis (the first "Public Enemy #1"), and Arthur "Doc" Barker. The prison building was cold and antiseptic with the rows of cells on two floors of the main prison.
 FORMER ALCATRAZ INMATE, JIM QUILLEN SIGNING HIS BOOK, "ALCATRAZ: FROM INSIDE" |  ALCATRAZ BREAKFAST SIGN FROM THE LAST DAY THE PRISON WAS OPEN |
The tour took us through the various sections of this maximum security prison which was a "last resort" incarceration for prisoners who refused to conform to the rules and regulations at other Federal institutions. These inmates were either considered violent and dangerous, or escape risks. While there were a number of well-known inmates who served time at Alcatraz, most of the 1,576 prisoners incarcerated there were not famous gangsters.
 AL CAPONE |  ROBERT STROUD (THE "BIRDMAN" OF ALCATRAZ) |  GEORGE "MACHINE GUN" KELLY |  ALVIN "CREEPY" KARPIS |  MICKEY COHEN |
FAMOUS ALCATRAZ INMATES
(CREDIT: ALCATRAZHISTORY.COM)
(CREDIT: ALCATRAZHISTORY.COM)
Interestingly, Alcatraz also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons staff and their families.
Over the course of its 29 years in existence as a Federal Prison, a total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts. Possibly, the most notable ones were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962, for which the movie Escape from Alcatraz is based. Today, Alcatraz Island is part of the National Parks Service.
During my visit, I was struck with sadness as I walked through the halls. I thought of these lost souls - violent, most sociopaths, dangerous to society - and how their talents and lives were wasted because they chose to follow a life of crime.
During our visit, a former inmate, Jim Quillen was signing his book, Alcatraz: From Inside. I did not buy it, but I'm sure it had some very poignant stories.
It is of particular importance to note that my visit to Alcatraz was 22 years ago and while I'm sure much has not changed, I cannot say that with authority. One thing that is different today is the ability to get tickets for this tour online through the official Alcatraz website.
I know I will return to visit Alcatraz one day with my kids, when we visit San Francisco. It is one of those experiences that really affected - being inside a real prison and seeing things close up and personal as opposed to on television or on the big screen. As a result, I highly recommend seeing Alcatraz first hand one day.
-Elisa
Over the course of its 29 years in existence as a Federal Prison, a total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts. Possibly, the most notable ones were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962, for which the movie Escape from Alcatraz is based. Today, Alcatraz Island is part of the National Parks Service.
During my visit, I was struck with sadness as I walked through the halls. I thought of these lost souls - violent, most sociopaths, dangerous to society - and how their talents and lives were wasted because they chose to follow a life of crime.
During our visit, a former inmate, Jim Quillen was signing his book, Alcatraz: From Inside. I did not buy it, but I'm sure it had some very poignant stories.
It is of particular importance to note that my visit to Alcatraz was 22 years ago and while I'm sure much has not changed, I cannot say that with authority. One thing that is different today is the ability to get tickets for this tour online through the official Alcatraz website.
I know I will return to visit Alcatraz one day with my kids, when we visit San Francisco. It is one of those experiences that really affected - being inside a real prison and seeing things close up and personal as opposed to on television or on the big screen. As a result, I highly recommend seeing Alcatraz first hand one day.
-Elisa