Escape Into Alcatraz: Visiting the Infamous Prison

Step back in time two hundred years and this place was barren – no flowers, no grass, nothing. It was only when the military arrived in 1848 that they bought with them dirt to start creating a fort. And that was how Alcatraz started, as a military outpost to defend the west coast of America. But imagine life for a group of men on an island exposed to strong ocean winds, with nothing to do. It was a disaster waiting to happen. As the men slowly got themselves into trouble, so the fort transformed into a military prison, getting more and more full as time wore on. And so it remained until 1933, when it was taken over by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

This was to be a new type of super-prison and one that would house the country’s worst criminals – kidnappers, murderers and gangsters. Over the next three decades, some of the most notorious names resided here with no hope of escape. And as you begin your tour to Alcatraz on one of the ships of the Blue and Gold Fleet you’re asked to put yourself in the shoes of those prisoners who were brought here. How you would feel, knowing that this desolate island would be your home for the next few years? It’s a sobering thought, as you sail further away from the bright lights of San Francisco and closer to the dock of the island.

You arrive at Alcatraz Pier, exactly the same place that the prisoners first set foot on the island and immediately you get an understanding for how they must have felt arriving. It’s a steep, quarter-mile walk up to the main cell block – the equivalent to a thirteen story climb. Unlike for the inmates, an alternative exists these days for tourists; you can take a SEAT (Sustainable Easy Access Transport) instead, an electric shuttle that runs along the route.

Once you get to the cell block, it’s on to what must rank as one of the best audio tours ever produced. Voiced by former prisoners and guards, it explains to you in detail about life on the Rock, taking you through an average day, interspersed with information about the infamous names that once spent those average days here. What strikes you immediately is how cruel this place is. Strategically positioned, from certain parts of the cell block, it was possible to see the sunsets and parts of the skyline, constant reminders of what these men had left behind.

Your visit takes in the dining area, kitchen (complete with the silhouette of knives to check that they were all returned at the end of every meal), library and perhaps the part that everyone wants to see – the cells themselves. If you’re claustrophobic, it may not be a good idea to try them out for size, but it is a fascinating experience – and a once in a lifetime photo opportunity!