What is Alcatraz Island?
Alcatraz Island is a 19 acre (.07 kilometer) National Park located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Like many of the islands of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz has a long and colorful history, and is also open to visitors year round. It is accessible via a private ferry service run from the city of San Francisco, and is maintained by the National Parks Service. In addition to being a National Park, Alcatraz is also a registered National Historic Landmark. When early explorers reached California, they established the first military base in the West on Alcatraz in 1850. The first lighthouse followed, in 1853, when increased ship traffic illustrated the clear need for navigational aids. Alcatraz was used for military prisoners such as conscientious objectors from the First World War until 1934, when a Federal prison was built and opened on Alcatraz. From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz was home to one of the most notorious Federal prisons in American history. Known as “The Rock,” the prison hos
