Alcatraz is a place that conjures up haunting visions, foggy tales and cold forbidden American Myths. Yet Alcatraz Island remains irresolute, firmly entrenched in the middle of San Francisco Bay telling a long tale that bravely portrays a part of the American experience.

Long before infamous fame, and years before "The Birdman of Alcatraz," the island was utilized as an important military garrison by the United States Army. Early on, after the 1849 Gold Rush, the US Government built Alcatraz as a way of securing the bay against foreign invaders. By the early 1860's, Alcatraz had 111 cannons mounted on the island. Ironically, the first "invaders" to guard against were Confederate raiders that posed a serious threat to California. In fact, a crew of Confederate privateers were among the first prisoners captured and held on the island.

The Army recognized that the extremely cold water of the Bay (53 degrees F) and the swift currents made Alcatraz a facility unlikely to allow prisoners to escape.

In late 1800's, Alcatraz enlarged the prisoner facilities, in order to house army prisoners, "rebellious Indians" and civilians convicted of treason.

Although some additional battlements were erected on the island, soon they became obsolete, and by 1907, the island became The Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison, the largest such facility in the Western States.

During the Depression, as military budgets were vastly reduced, the Army officially relinquished control of Alcatraz and turned the island over to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Attorney General at the time, Homer Cummings wanted, "To create a special place for kidnappers, racketeers, and individuals guilty of predatory crimes." The government wanted a "super prison" that was escape proof. Through the years 36 inmates tried to escape; most were killed but five are still unaccounted for. Contrary to popular belief, most of the 1545 prisoners at Alcatraz were not well known. However, a few men did stand above the rest, including "Machine Gun" Kelly and Al Capone, who spent four ½ years on the island. But the most famous was Robert Franklin Stroud who became known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," later immortalized on film.

Eventually, Alcatraz became outmoded and too costly. The US government officially closed its doors as a prison on March 21, 1963.

Today Alcatraz island is a unique place to visit, and a study in contrasts. The former prison, which was once a terribly forbidding and bleak house of corrections, retains million dollar views of the Bay and San Francisco. The tide pools, florae and fauna are unaware of the tortured souls that lived and died on the infamous island.

The hours of operation vary with the season - day visits are available throughout the day beginning at 9:30am. Departures are available about every half hour. The island closes at 6:30pm in the summer, 4:30pm in fall, winter and spring. The Island is open for tours every day except Christmas and New Year’s Day. Advance tickets are strongly recommended and tickets often sell out a week in advance during the busy summer months. For more information and tickets purchases call: (415) 705-5555. Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket booth on Pier 41, Fisherman’s Wharf.