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ALCATRAZ HISTORY - The Rock - AN OVERVIEW

Alcatraz Island Dock ©2002 RJ Best

Alcatraz Island sits isolated amidst the cold winds of the bay. Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala named this foreboding rock for the pelicans nesting there. This infamous island, the subject of legend, lore and a few Hollywood movies, once held scores of prisoners incarcerated above its cliffs.

ALCATRAZ HISTORY AND LINKS

PRISON
First used as a prison by the U.S. Army during the Civil War, "The Rock" became a maximum security penitentiary in 1934, during the post-Prohibition, post-Depression America. Federal officials talked about creating a special prison for kidnappers, racketeers, and individuals guilty of predatory crimes. In fact, the public peace seemed constantly threatened by crime - and Alcatraz seemed to be the ideal response to that threat.

Alcatraz Lighthouse overlooking the Dock area©2002 B. Huber

At first, Alcatraz was somewhat of an experiment. Prisoners from other institutions who were especially difficult to manage were sent here. This type of segregation had never been practiced before, but it worked well enough to serve as a model for the federal prison located in Marion, Illinois.

Though Alcatraz is thought to have housed many notorious criminals, only a handful of truly famous names did time on this harsh island. Mobster Al Capone, bank robber Leon "Whitey" Thompson, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz," Robert Stroud (who, by the way, was not permitted to continue his avian studies during his 17 years on the island). Numerous escapes (36 to be exact) were attempted, though there is no evidence that anyone ever made it through the icy, shark-infested waters to freedom.

The prison closed in 1964 due to prohibitive operating costs.

Alcatraz Guard Tower©2002 B. Huber

NATIVE AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Prior to the coming of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, over 10,000 indigenous people, later to be called the Ohlone (a Miwok Indian word meaning "western people"), lived in the coastal area between Point Sur and the San Francisco Bay. Native American oral histories suggest that tribal members were isolated or ostracized on Alcatraz when they violated a tribal law or taboo. Other stories cite the island's use as a camping spot, an area for gathering foods, especially bird eggs and sea-life, and a hiding place for many Indians attempting to escape from the California Mission system.

On November 9, 1969, Richard Oakes, a Mohawk Indian, and a group of Indian supporters set out in a chartered boat, the Monte Cristo, to symbolically claim the island for the Indian people. On November 20, 1969, this symbolic occupation turned into a full scale occupation which lasted until June 11, 1971.

The Indians' demands were clear: they wanted the deed to the island, and they wanted to establish an Indian university, a cultural center, and a museum. The government refused to negotiate and insisted that they leave the island. By early 1970, the Indian's organization on the island began to disintegrate to such a point that Oakes left the island. After many months of declining leadership on the island and government attempts to oust the Native Americans and the growing drug culture, President Nixon gave the go ahead to develop a removal plan -- to take place when the smallest number of people were on the island and to use as little force as possible.

On June 10, 1971, the occupation ended. Shortly thereafter, the official government policy of termination of Indian tribes was ended and a policy of Indian self-determination became the official US government policy.

ALCATRAZ TODAY
The National Park Service administers Alcatraz Island as a unit of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). A variety of tours of the island are offered - for more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/ See the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse and enjoy the island's many natural features - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and breathtaking bay views. Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a jacket.

Copyright TourCorp Inc. 2003-08 - All Rights Reserved


ALCATRAZ TOUR PACKAGES - Reserve tickets online TODAY!

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Popular Alcatraz Combination Tours

We offer One and Two day combination tour packages for Alcatraz.

Beware Alcatraz Ticket Tricks and Huge Overcharges. Don't be fooled or overcharged by other Alcatraz "Official" Ticket web sites. These overpriced web sites may charge you as much as $10.00 per ticket "service charge" or $ 3.95 per order "service fee" or both. We do not mark up Alcatraz Ferry and Audio Tour prices. We also do not advertise $7.00-8.00 child ticket prices for a 1 Hour Bay Cruise that goes around Alcatraz (not to Alcatraz) to lure you into our web site.

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One and Two day combination tour packages for Alcatraz. We offer the published prices for Ferry and Audio Tour Tickets to Alcatraz. All of our Alcatraz tickets are combined with a 2nd tour also at published prices. We make a commission on selling you the 2nd tour. We don't think you should pay as much as $13.95 extra and not get anything but a Alcatraz Ferry ticket and a "service charge." Thanks for visiting San Francisco and purchasing tickets from us.

Notice: Alcatraz Ferry departs from Pier 33.

A very limited amount of Night Alcatraz Tours are available from Thursday through Monday nights only. Departures are 4:10 PM or 5:10 PM. Higher Night Tour rate will be charged. Ferry and Night Tour Departure Times are 4:10 PM and 5:10 PM. Please indicate if you want a Night Tour on your order. If Night tours are unavailable a day Alcatraz tour if available will be reserved for you.

Wharf Pass - Fishermans Wharf If Alcatraz is Sold Out or you will be visiting Fisherman's Wharf buy a Wharf Pass. Save with this One Low Price Admission Pass to the best Wharf Attractions, Tours and Cruises.

BOAT CRUISE PACKAGES 48 HOUR HOP ON HOP OFF PACKAGES
Alcatraz combined with Bay and Sunset Cruises: Alcatraz combined with open ticket Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Bus Tours:
1 Hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise From $46.50 Double Decker - 2 for 1 Downtown + Golden Gate Loops From $74.50
2 Hour Sunset Bay Cruise (Open April - October) From $72.50 Double Decker - 3 for 1 All Loops: Downtown & Golden Gate Loops plus Night Tour From $94.50
Double Decker - Downtown Loop From $54.50
Double Decker - Golden Gate Loop From $49.50
FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR PACKAGES 2 DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR PACKAGES
Alcatraz combined with Half Day Sightseeing Tours: Alcatraz combined with a Full Day Sightseeing Tour on 2nd day:
San Francisco Deluxe City Tour From $70.50 Wine Country Tour From $89.50
Giant Redwoods and Sausalito Tour From $72.50 Wine Country and Muir Giant Redwoods Woods Tour From $99.50
San Francisco Foreign Language City Tour