Explore the Mysteries of Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US built fort on the West Coast and the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public. Often referred to as The Rock, there is also a natural side to the island which include gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.
The prison on Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. Given the high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof. 1,576 of Americas most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz), George Machine Gun Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. Doc Barker, James Whitey Bulger, and Alvin Creepy Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate).
