Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was the high-security federal prison located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, operating from 1934 to 1963. The facility held convicted criminals judged too dangerous or escape-prone for other prisons and became widely known for its strict regimes and famous inmates.

Contemporary visitor experiences focus on the cellhouse audio tour, the recreation yard, and other preserved structures such as the lighthouse and guard facilities; National Park Service interpretive programs present history, escape attempts and daily life at the prison. Access is by ferry from San Francisco, with timed departures and on-island routing managed by concessionaire ferry operators.

The island’s history predates the federal prison: it was used as a military fortification and military prison in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the lighthouse on the island was first lit in 1854. After the penitentiary closed in 1963 the site entered National Park Service management and later hosted a famous occupation by Native American activists from 1969 to 1971.

Alcatraz Island sits about 1.25 miles (roughly 2 kilometres) offshore from downtown San Francisco in the central bay, visible from multiple waterfront points and reached by regular visitor ferries departing from Pier 33.

• Federal prison years: Operated as a federal maximum-security penitentiary from 1934 until its closure in 1963, housing some of the era's most notorious inmates.
• Visitor access: Public access is by scheduled ferry service from San Francisco; the National Park Service runs guided and audio tours of the island and cellhouse.

What to See #

• Cellhouse: Cellhouse - The central prison building where cells, mess hall and administrative rooms remain the focus of guided tours and the audio tour narrative.
• Lighthouse: Alcatraz Lighthouse - Constructed in 1854 and located at the island's highest point, the lighthouse predates the federal prison and is the first lighthouse built on the U.S. West Coast.
• Recreation yard: Recreation yard and parade ground - Open-air area behind the cellhouse where outdoor exercise and recreation took place and which is visible on standard visitor tours.