Alcatraz : Visiting Alcatraz from a Different View Point
Right at the center of the rapid waves of San Francisco Bay is one of the most famous landmarks of the state of California; if not, the entire country as a whole – Alcatraz. What was once a military prison established in 1850 then turned into a maximum security prison up until 1933, this former isolated establishment was made notorious to encaging hardened criminals and their almost impossible escape attempts.
However, the dark past of fortification beyond the sea is long gone as it is now home to one of the oldest operating lighthouse on the United State’s West Coast, old military defense structures and some natural figures such as seabird colonies and rock pools; and not to mention being the greatest viewing deck for the San Francisco Bay Coastline.
Alcatraz Information
At present Alcatraz island, also famously known as “The Rock”, is now considered a historical site considered to be a National Historic Landmark and is being managed by the National Park Service as an inclusion to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). GGNRA is one of the most visited and largest urban national parks in America.
Guests and tourists can go to the infamous island and partake in several tours offered by National Park Service. The ferry boat is the easiest and probably the only mode of transportation to go and fro the island. Physically disabled guests, however, need o to worry because the SEAT or Sustainable Easy Access Transport shuttle is one of the ways in which Alcatraz can be reached. SEAT is an hourly transport from the dock to the cell house and vice versa.
Both the ferry service to Alcatraz and major island facilities are accessible. The SEAT (Sustainable Easy Access Transport) shuttle is available hourly for transport of visitors from the dock to the cell house and hourly back to the dock- it is available only for those visitors with a mobility need on a first come first served basis.
One of the tours offered by the National Park Service is the Interpretive Programs. Through the Interpretive Programs, guests are treated to different outdoor interpretive walks by NPS rangers and volunteers.
Self-Guided Tours which give the guests the freedom to explore Alcatraz on their own are also available. Interested parties can buy brochures interpreted in different languages (English, Italian, Spanish, German, and Japanese) for a dollar at the dock to help them through their Alcatraz walk through.
A 14-minute film presentation of Alcatraz’s 200 year history can also be included to the tour upon entrance to the island. Also available is a 35-minute recorded tour of inmates and correctional officer’s recollection and accounts of their stay inside Alcatraz. These recorded tours will surely further enhance a tourist’s Alcatraz visit.
Several exhibits are also hosted within the island to give guests an in-depth view of the island’s culture and history. Just behind the Alcatraz Theater is a presentation of the various periods on The Rock’s history. These exhibits include the years of the U.S. penitentiary on the island as correctional materials, items and multi-media materials of famous inmates including Al Capone, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” and Robert Stroud are incorporated into the exhibit.
One of the most famous exhibits about the island, entitled “We Hold the Rock”, is shown daily on Alcatraz Island. This award-winning video-exhibit tackles the American Indian history and how their occupation changed the course of The Rock’s participation in history.
Another program hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Service is the Parks as Classrooms program. This course is geared towards young people and they take part is outdoor educational tours that deals with the island’s native inhabitants, historic landmarks and natural resources. Preservation as well as ecological issues are also addressed in these tours to give the children an education regarding the importance of having an active role in protecting and conserving the island’s historical and ecological resources.