Alcatraz Island, San Francisco

Name: Alcatraz Island
Address: San Francisco, United States
Telephone: +1 415 981 7625

#357 among attractions in San Francisco

Island

Gallery (19)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Frank Schulenburg / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kamilokardona / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kamilokardona / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kamilokardona / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Tristan Surtel / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Bgag / URL

Facts and practical information

Alcatraz Island is a small island in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison. In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape all but impossible, and the prison became one of the most notorious in American history. The prison closed in 1963, and the island is now a major tourist attraction. ()

Alternative names: Established: 1934 (90 years ago)Area: 21 acres (0.0328 mi²)Coordinates: 37°49'36"N, 122°25'23"W

Address

San Francisco United States

Contact

+1 415 981 7625

Website

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San Francisco

Day trips

Alcatraz Island – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Main Prison, Musee Mecanique, Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39.

~40 ftS
Museum, History museum, Historical place
Main Prison, San Francisco
1 min walk • The main prison in San Francisco, known as Alcatraz, is a place with a rich and dark history that today attracts throngs of tourists as a museum. Located on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, it was once the most famous and impenetrable federal prison in the...
1.3 miS
Museum, History museum, Specialty museum
Musee Mecanique, San Francisco
32 min walk • Nestled in the picturesque Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco, Musée Mécanique is a vibrant homage to the bygone era of arcade entertainment. This interactive museum is a treasure trove of over 300 mechanical machines, ranging from 20th-century penny arcade games...
1.5 miSE
Waterfront museum with aquatic animals
Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco
38 min walk • Nestled on the bustling waterfront of San Francisco, the Aquarium of the Bay stands as a living tapestry of the city's vibrant marine life. Located at Pier 39, this aquatic wonderland is a portal to the rich ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding...
1.4 miSE
Scenic pier with food and activities
Pier 39, San Francisco
37 min walk • Pier 39, a bustling shopping center and popular tourist attraction, stands out as a vibrant hub of activity in the heart of San Francisco. This waterfront complex, known for its picturesque views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz, is much more than a...
~340 ftSE
Lighthouse
Alcatraz Island Light, San Francisco
2 min walk • Alcatraz Island Light stands as a historic beacon in San Francisco, United States, marking the notorious Alcatraz Island, once home to the infamous federal prison. Erected in 1909, this lighthouse is not only one of the key navigational aids in San Francisco Bay but...
~150 ftN
Forts and castles, Vernacular architecture, Lighthouse
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
1 min walk • Alcatraz Island, often known simply as "The Rock," is an iconic landmark in the San Francisco Bay of California. This small island was famously home to a federal prison that once held some of the most notorious criminals in American history, such as Al Capone...
1.2 miS
WWII submarine turned museum and memorial
USS Pampanito, San Francisco
32 min walk • USS Pampanito, a Balao-class submarine, was a United States Navy ship, the third one named for the pompano fish. She completed six war patrols from 1944 to 1945 and served as a United States Naval Reserve training ship from 1960 to 1971.
1.1 miS
Functioning WWII-era ship and museum
SS Jeremiah O'Brien, San Francisco
29 min walk • SS Jeremiah O'Brien is a Liberty ship built during World War II and named after the American Revolutionary War ship captain Jeremiah O'Brien.
1.2 miS
Ship, Boat or ferry, Transport
Eureka, San Francisco
31 min walk • Eureka is a side-wheel paddle steamboat, built in 1890, which is now preserved at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in San Francisco, California.
~580 ftE
Harbor
Dock, San Francisco
3 min walk • Alcatraz Wharf is located on the southeast side of Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, California, US. Classified as building number 33 of the Alcatraz Island National Historic Landmark, its historic name variants were "Alcatraz Dock" and "Alcatraz Pier". It is the main access point to Alcatraz.
~410 ftNW
Tower
Alcatraz water tower, San Francisco
2 min walk • Alcatraz water tower is on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, off the coast of San Francisco, California. It is located on the northwestern side of the island, near Tower No. 3, beyond the Morgue and Recreation Yard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Alcatraz Island?

Nearby attractions include Alcatraz Citadel, San Francisco (1 min walk), Main Prison, San Francisco (1 min walk), Alcatraz Island, San Francisco (1 min walk), Warden's House, San Francisco (2 min walk).