Alcatraz

Here are my photos from a visit to Alcatraz, on my layover in San Fran. Was there for about three hours and it was a surprisingly really cool experience. Kinda haunting, but the views across the bay are phenomenal and it's just a really fascinating place.

For those who didn't pay attention in history class in school, Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal prison for many years. Al Capone was imprisoned there. No one ever escaped from Alcatraz and made it out alive. Alcatraz sits on an island in the middle of the bay, with very cold, dangerous waters surrounding it.

Although, they do hold triathlons now called "Escape from Alcatraz" where the competitors do actually swim across the bay from Alcatraz. So maybe I could do it :)

View back toward San Francisco skyline:


One of the main buildings at Alcatraz:


A boat approaching the ruins on the island:


View of San Fran fog from a window in one of the ruined buildings:


View of Alcatraz Island from the mainland:


View near the recreation grounds:


One of the burned-out buildings on Alcatraz as you approach by ferry:


Brick wall near the ferry landing:


Prison interior:


Buildings near the ferry landing:


The gardens that the prisoners planted:


Looking down:


Interior stairwell:


View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the island:


Another skyline view from the island:


Prison corridor and cutoff:


Another view from a burned-out building:


Interior view of the main cell block:


House near the ferry landing:


Walkway from the library:


A sign dating back to when Native American activists occupied the island:


One of the buildings on the island:


View of the Golden Gate through barbed wire on the island:


The prison library. Nice and cozy.


View from the steps near the recreation ground:


Sunlight filtering through the main cell block area:


Another view toward the Golden Gate Bridge:


The recreation yard:


Doorway leading back into the cell block from the recreation yard:


Wall surrounding the recreation yard:


More of the gardens that were kept up by the prisoners (real Martha Stewarts, eg?):


Cell block building exterior:


Cell block interior:


Looking inside a cell. That's a lovely shade of green paint.