Alcatraz Tour…California Part 2
This is Part 2 segment of our California Trip. To see Part 1 click here.
The tour begins…up ahead…The Barracks Apartments.
The Alcatraz Tour boat with the Golden Gate bridge in view! So beautiful!
The Guard Tower…we were not allowed to climb up the stairs.
The Social Hall, destroyed by fire during the Native American occupation.
The cellhouse, now empty of the dangerous criminals who were once housed there, still carries remnants of the dark events to which these walls once bore witness. If you look off the the right, you will see some of the notable inmates in Alcatraz.
Brandon, my son-in-law, acting like he can’t get out of prison. Okay…maybe his mother-in-law put him up to it☺ Don’t you just love when they play along?
The Warden’s home…time has eroded…
Alcatraz and history go hand in hand. It was once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to the Rock. The presence of infamous inmates like Al “Scarface” Capone, and the “Birdman” Robert Stroud helped to establish the island’s notoriety. This prison has such a mysterious aura to it…you can almost feel what happened in there!
Many people, though, are unaware of the wealth of other stories to be learned on the island. Alcatraz is now home to beautiful rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife, and thousands of roosting and nesting sea birds. My daughter and I had a contest who could photograph the best sea bird picture. I won. Her husband consoled her, telling her that I had the better camera. How cute is that? Civil War-era buildings dotting the island give insight into the 19th century when the island served as both a harbor defense fort and a military prison. You can also see visible reminders of the American Indian Occupation that started in 1969 after the prison closed.
Some very interesting facts…a total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts, two men trying twice; 23 were caught, six were shot and killed during their escape, two drowned, and five are listed as “missing and presumed drowned”.
If you haven’t experienced the beauty, history and infamy of Alcatraz on the San Francisco Bay, you will be amazed by what you learn and see. I HIGHLY recommend it!
I would love to know how many of you have had this great experience of seeing “The Rock?” Were you as shocked as I was on the beauty that waited for you on the island?
Please leave your lovely comments below.
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A happy dance side note…I was featured yesterday on…Scattered Horizons. They chose the photograph with the sunset behind the boat on the gulf waters. You can view it on the Jazz Fest posting.
Happy Wonderful Day!
Laurie
XXOO
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Wow, I’d love to take that tour! Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #43!
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Thanks for taking us along on the tour. Looks like you hit it on a great day.
I so love to visit this place in person. Your photos are fantastic. Thanks for sharing and joining Water World Wednesday I do appreciate it and hope to see you next week. ^_^
Kim,USA
Great shots! It looks like you had perfect weather for your visit and you’ve caught the stark beauty and ghostly-ness of the place.
I’m a native San Franciscan now living in the Pacific Northwest. As a child I remember Alcatraz when it was a prison, then unoccupied, then the site of the Native American occupation. In later years I heard rave reviews of the tours. . .but (blush) admit that I never went there myself. I think it had to do with being a snobby local and not wanting to get on the tourist track.
You captured some gorgeous photos! We have only been over to SF once (a shame, since we’re only a few hours’ drive away), and Alcatrez was probably my favorite part of that trip. We did the night tour…very eerie, but also beautiful views of the bridge and the city as the sunset. I’m really enjoying your CA photos so far. Can’t wait to see more!
(Visiting from the Saturday Sharefest at SITS Girls)
I live in the SoCal but never have been to this place, I know, I should go some time soon. But for now I’ll enjoy the place through your photos. 😀
Visiting from Sharefest. Wow, those are AMAZING photos. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beautiful!
Does anyone watch the show? I think that is what has facinated me about Alcatraz now.
Great pictures – makes me want to visit 🙂 – I am here visiting from sharefest ~ Bea
Interesting place. I would love to visit one day.
What a great collections of images! I love the vibrancy of the blue sky. Thank you for sharing!
Such interesting pictures, looks like it would be a very interesting place to visit. Especially enjoyed the picture of the warden’s house, so neat what time has done.
Thanks for stopping by to visit at myhouseandme.com!
Fascinating! Nice series of pictures.
you know, i’m from ca and that is one place i’ve never been to for some reason…now i really wish i had! great pics!!
Have times changed? I’m not sure. But this sure was interesting! xo
Great photos of an historic site ~ (A Creative Harbor)
Fascinating tour!
Love seeing all these pics! I so wanted to tour Alcatraz when I was there a few years ago to run the marathon, but they were completely booked for days.
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Alcatraz is still on my list of places to see. I think I to just do it – it’s not that far away. Then maybe that’s why I haven’t…
Great post
I want to go back to Acatraz and this time do the night tour 🙂
Very fascinating. I love the picture of the guard tower.
What a beautiful day for your visit.. I have only been to San Francisco a dozen days, all cloudy. Great tour.
thanx for a wonderful virtual tour and interesting info on Alcatraz…..How horrible that we have human beings so very evil, they need to be housed in cages….
So neat! Great photos!
I have always wanted to go! Looks like you had a great time and nice weather!
I’ve heard it’s haunted. I’d love to see it.
Have a great WW.
POSH
Never been there but always thought it would be cool to go there. Love the guard tower shot and the last one. Great perspective on them!
I so want to tour Alcatraz one day! Great post, loved the info too!!
http://johnnjana.blogspot.com/2012/08/wordless-wednesdayalmost-writing.html
I have a fascination of life on Alcatraz. Especially of the children that lived on the island and went to school there. I have the book “The Children of Alcatraz: Growing up on the Rock” on my Amazon wish list!
My husband and I visited SF 3 years ago and I regret we didn’t do the tour looks like it was good ….
Once again Laurie you’ve outdone yourself with the photography and story telling!! I would love to visit Alcatraz after this post!! Congrats on another award!! You deserve it!!!
I too have never been there although I have sailed all around it. When I was a girl of course there were inmates. The escapes were always interesting to read about. And of course, across the bay there would be riots at San Quentin. I would love to take the tour.
Looks like such a beautiful and historical place! Great pics 🙂
Such a fun tour! Great shots!
My brother has actually just been here he said its amazing! Great read
I’ve never been to Alcatraz but would LOVE to visit this historic place some day……especially after this informative post! And, BTW, congrats on yet again another well-deserved award! It truly was a beautiful photo op!