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Why
Alcatraz Island
is special
Alcatraz Island (nicknamed the Rock) is renowned for its decades of being a
maximum-security prison for incorrigible inmates.
Alcatraz
tips & insights
 Celebrated
"involuntary guests" at this penal complex in San Francisco Bay included
Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone and the "Birdman of Alcatraz" Robert Shroud.
Few
jailbirds attempted to escape because of tight security, the distance to the
mainland shoreline, and the frigid, strong, bay currents which could rapidly
pull them out to the deep ocean. And, there was the rumor of man-eating sharks.
Still, there were 14 attempts involving several dozen convicts. Most of them
were caught, but some drowned or were shot. No one knows for sure what happened
to several others. Officials think they drowned, some writers say they made it
and settled elsewhere.
Life
could be tough for detainees. The official rules stated that they were entitled
to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention - and anything else was a
privilege that one must earn by good behavior. This included recreational
activities.
And
then there was the psychological distress of seeing the inviting lights of the
city just two kilometers (1.2 miles) away. And, if the wind was accommodating,
the sounds of people having a good time could be heard.
More
than a million tourists visit Alcatraz annually. Their sole means of
transportation is a ferry, which departs from Fisherman's Wharf. Be aware that
tickets can be sold out up to a week or more in advance in the summer, so book
ahead.
When
you disembark, do not miss the short, informative orientation video.
Buy
the inexpensive, but informative self-guide tour booklet.
I
also recommend renting the audio tour. You hear the recorded voices of former guards and inmates recounting their firsthand
experiences. It makes the cell block come to life as you explore it.
A
free tour bonus is the photogenic views of the city, bay and Golden Gate Bridge
from the Rock.
Wear
comfortable shoes (for long, sometimes uphill walks). And dress warmly (the
cold, robust bay winds lower the chill factor).
Brief history of
Alcatraz Island
This travel wonder has four major historical periods.
1850-1934
Fortress (until 1907) and military brig.
1934-1963
Federal penitentiary.
1969-1971
Occupied by a small group of American Indians to protest government policy
affecting Native-Americans.
1973-present
Run by the National Park System. Open to the public.
 
American cuisine
 
 
 
 
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