Alcatraz Island/The Rock Reviews (San Francisco, California)

Alcatraz Island - Escape from the Rock

by dkm1981

Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

November 3, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo Alcatraz Island is without a doubt one of the most famous of San Francisco’s landmarks and, with such a varied and interesting history, deservedly so. I visited for the second time on a recent trip to the US and I was pleased to find that nothing ...Read more

From journal San Francisco - Top Five

Very good overall but too rushed.

by chrisdanlee

Ontario, Ontario

April 20, 2011

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The Alcatraz and the San Fran City Tour combo was good overall but felt very rushed. We would have like to spend more time in Alcatraz. The line for the Alcatraz audio head sets was too long and we had to rush through the tour ourselves, to make it ...Read more

Alcatraz

by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

December 11, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo If you go to San Francisco, then you can hardly not make any visit to Alcatraz. Except a piece of history, Alcatraz is also a very impressive place to visit.The history of AlcatrazAlcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay. In 1775 the ...Read more

From journal San Francisco

We'd booked advance tickets to ensure our visit

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

October 17, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo Of course no visit to San Francisco is complete without taking the boat trip to the notorious prison of Alcatraz and we’d been determined to get there so we had booked and paid for our tickets in advance. On our first full day in San Francisco we ...Read more Of course no visit to San Francisco is complete without taking the boat trip to the notorious prison of Alcatraz and we’d been determined to get there so we had booked and paid for our tickets in advance. On our first full day in San Francisco we headed off to the pier to pick up the Alcatraz cruise. We were in plenty of time so were able to check out the pier-side museum and read the chilling words "any convict who escapes, or who attempts to escape, when recaptured is obliged to wear a ball and chain for three months". Alcatraz was full of rules and we’d more of them as we went round the prison, but of course it was dealing with some of the most notorious criminals in the USA.

The clean, modern boat, the Islander, was in position waiting for us and it wasn’t long before we were heading off across the bay, with the infamous island way ahead in the distance. We got some perfect views back across to the town of San Francisco with its incredible variety of modern architecture overlooking the bay.

The prison building looked stark and forbidding even now and the original signage announced that this was a "United States Penitentiary" that no government boats were allowed nearer than 200 yards, and no one would be allowed on the island without a pass. The whole island is 12 acres in size so we’re not talking about a small place and the old guard towers confirm how seriously they took security on this bleak and forbidding island.
After a brief explanation by one of the park rangers we were invited to explore the prison and its grounds unaccompanied and walked up the gentle sloped past the weathered building with their algae ridden corrugated roofs. We pass one of the huge guard towers and, despite the fact that it’s unmanned it’s still a chilling feeling and then into the prison. We’ve all been kitted out with headphones for the self guided tour and we are soon passing through the reception area where prisoners would have been issued with their essentials – shaving brushes, shoes and prison clothing. Then we’re in the cell block and these are just unpleasant and primitive cells. I’m not suggesting that they should have been anything other, because in their day these prisoners needed to be contained. There were dangerous and brutal men here and it was a tough life for prisoners and wardens alike. And that still shines through the very fabric of this building.

We saw the Birdman’s cell and at one point we could just about see the banks of the town from one of the high barred windows. Tantalisingly close, but the river’s fierce currents were almost a guarantee that escape was impossible.

A quote from Frank Weatherman, the last prisoner to leave the island, confirms our belief that Alcatraz was an unrelenting place for one and all – "Alcatraz was never no good for nobody" ( a triple negative).

Take a walk in the exercise yard – you’ll get a view of the mainland as you go down the steps but then the concrete wall with its barbed wire topping is all that you see. Just imagine exercising in the yard for day after day after day. Boredom must have been real hard to combat.

Regulation 11 (and all the prisoners were given a book of the prison regulations on arrival – so there was no excuse not to know and understand what was expected of you) clearly told inmates that no transfer to another prison would be recommended "unless you can show a better than average good conduct record for several years at this institution". That meant don’t even think about not obeying the rules!

The "hole" was where the most dangerous of inmates were detained. They were given "adequate food" but confined in their cell. Six closed front cells were the deterrent for sever disciplinary problems where offender could be locked up in total darkness on a restricted diet for up to 19 days. Despite the awfulness of this, prisoners still pushed their luck!

It’s always maintained that no prisoner ever escaped from the island but we did marvel at the inventiveness of the attempts, particularly that of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers who made it off the island, but are believed to have drowned in their escape. The truth of the matter is that one way or another they did escape. They never returned!!

The "Rock" has been a lighthouse, a military garrison, a military prison, a "home" for conscientious objectors, a federal prison, and the occupation by a group of native Indians from 1969 – 1971 (and some of their graffiti remains there to this day). It was only a prison for 29 years, but that’s the one it’s most remembered for. Remembered, because of prisoners like the Birdman, Al Capone, ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly, and Doc Barker. Prisoners who have, perhaps shamefully, notoriety through their life in films!

Alcatraz is a brilliant visit but while you there remember to keep an eye out for the flora and bird life, because now the inhabitants of the island are nowhere near as violent as those original prisoners.
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From journal Planning to tour West Coast USA

Alcatraz at Night

by wasa girl

Ashburn, Virginia

July 30, 2008

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Best of IgoUgo When planning our trip to San Francisco the option was presented to visit Alcatraz during the day or to instead try the night tour. We selected the night tour, and being summer this meant that when we boarded the boat it was still light out.I ...Read more

From journal Quick Trip to SF

Alcatraz

by hastings0014

Lindale, Texas

February 27, 2008

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This place is just awesome. We went on the last tour in the evening and were there as dusk fell. It was an awesome sight, especially coming from a criminal justice family. There are some extras that come with the night tour - so I highly suggest ...Read more

From journal San Francisco, CA

Alcatraza - The Rock

by nb12

irving, Texas

December 24, 2007

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Visit to Alcatraz - It was like dream come true for me. Could almost see The Rock being shot in front of my eyes. All the rocks, the interiors, the water - all came live in front of me from the movie.

Alcatraz Tour

by mikro

Liverpool, New York

October 18, 2007

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Best of IgoUgo A night tour of Alcatraz Island provides more features than daytime tours. You have a guide up to the prison, then walk your way through listening to the audio tour. At the end, there are several options - extra guided tours, movies, or just time ...Read more

From journal Columbus Weekend in San Francisco

Alcatraz

by FelineFrenzy

Calgary, Alberta

September 10, 2007

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We had booked an Alcatraz tour in advance (you must do this in advance on the Internet at www.alcatrazcruises.com as they sell out well in advance) and it was worth every moment. We took the 11am sailing, and the time was just right to let us sleep ...Read more

From journal Luxurious Weekend in the City!

Alcatraz

by Ricardo!

Santander, Spain

March 3, 2007

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You haven't had a complete vacation in San Francisco if you haven't been to Alcatraz Island. The trip starts boarding the boat in the Pier, the trip in the boat can be a little painful, just because of the cold temperatures, but you will ...Read more

From journal The Amazing San Francisco

IgoUgo

Alcatraz Island/The Rock

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Alcatraz Island - Escape from the Rock

Very good overall but too rushed.

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We'd booked advance tickets to ensure our visit

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User Reviews

Alcatraz Island - Escape from the Rock

Very good overall but too rushed.

Alcatraz

We'd booked advance tickets to ensure our visit

Alcatraz at Night

Alcatraz

Alcatraza - The Rock

Alcatraz Tour

Alcatraz

Alcatraz