Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is a small island in San Francisco Bay located just 1.5 miles from the San Francisco USA mainland.  It has served as a military post and a prison.  Today, however, it is popular tourist destination.

The first prisoners held on the island were Civil War prisoners, back in 1860.  Famous prison inmates have included such characters as:

1. Al Capone
2. Robert Franklin Stroud (The Bird of Alcatraz)
3. George "Machine Gun" Kelly
4. James "Whitey" Bulger
5. Alvin Karpis

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco USA

The Island of Alcatraz has been featured in a number of movies including "The Rock" starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

A ferry service operates from Pier 33 in San Francisco to Alcatraz.  Due to its immense popularity, however, tour reservations should be made weeks in advance.