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Model of the prison in present day, on display at Alcatraz Island

Landmarks on the island include the Main Cellhouse, Dining Hall, Lighthouse, the ruins of the Warden's House and Social Hall, Parade Grounds, Building 64, Water Tower, New Industries Building, Model Industries Building, and the Recreation Yard. The total area of the island is reported to be 22 acres (8.9 ha). According to a 1971 documentary on the history of Alcatraz, the island measures 1,675 feet (511 m) by 590 feet (180 m) and is 135 feet (41 m) at highest point during mean tide. Hornblower Cruises, operating under the name Alcatraz Cruises, is the official ferry provider to and from the island.Īlcatraz Island is the site of the abandoned federal prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony (mostly western gulls, cormorants, and egrets). Visitors can reach the island in fewer than 15 minutes by ferry ride from Pier 33, located between the San Francisco Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Today, the island's facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In 1972, Alcatraz was transferred to the Department of Interior to become part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Since the late 20th century, it has become a major tourist attraction.īeginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans, initially primarily from San Francisco, who were later joined by AIM and other urban Indians from other parts of the country, who were part of a wave of Native American activists organizing public protests across the US through the 1970s. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape all but impossible. The small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a federal prison, the latter operated from Auguntil March 21, 1963. The Social Hall, destroyed by fire during the Native American occupation.Īlcatraz Island ( / ˈ æ l k ə ˌ t r æ z/, Latin-American Spanish pronunciation:, European Spanish pronunciation: from Arabic: الْغَطَّاس‎, romanized: al-ḡaṭṭās, lit.' gannet ("the diver")') is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States.