ALCATRAZ HISTORY - The Rock - AN OVERVIEW
Alcatraz Island sits isolated amidst the cold winds of the bay. Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala named this foreboding rock for the pelicans nesting there. This infamous island, the subject of legend, lore and a few Hollywood movies, once held scores of prisoners incarcerated above its cliffs.
ALCATRAZ HISTORY AND LINKS
PRISON
First used as a prison by the U.S. Army during the Civil War, "The
Rock" became a maximum security penitentiary in 1934, during
the post-Prohibition, post-Depression America. Federal officials
talked about creating a special prison for kidnappers, racketeers,
and individuals guilty of predatory crimes. In fact, the public
peace seemed constantly threatened by crime - and Alcatraz seemed
to be the ideal response to that threat.
At first, Alcatraz was somewhat of an experiment. Prisoners from other institutions who were especially difficult to manage were sent here. This type of segregation had never been practiced before, but it worked well enough to serve as a model for the federal prison located in Marion, Illinois.
Though Alcatraz is thought to have housed many notorious criminals, only a handful of truly famous names did time on this harsh island. Mobster Al Capone, bank robber Leon "Whitey" Thompson, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz," Robert Stroud (who, by the way, was not permitted to continue his avian studies during his 17 years on the island). Numerous escapes (36 to be exact) were attempted, though there is no evidence that anyone ever made it through the icy, shark-infested waters to freedom.
The prison closed in 1964 due to prohibitive operating costs.
NATIVE AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Prior to the coming of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, over
10,000 indigenous people, later to be called the Ohlone (a Miwok
Indian word meaning "western people"), lived in the coastal
area between Point Sur and the San Francisco Bay. Native American
oral histories suggest that tribal members were isolated or ostracized
on Alcatraz when they violated a tribal law or taboo. Other stories
cite the island's use as a camping spot, an area for gathering foods,
especially bird eggs and sea-life, and a hiding place for many Indians
attempting to escape from the California Mission system.
On November 9, 1969, Richard Oakes, a Mohawk Indian, and a group of Indian supporters set out in a chartered boat, the Monte Cristo, to symbolically claim the island for the Indian people. On November 20, 1969, this symbolic occupation turned into a full scale occupation which lasted until June 11, 1971.
The Indians' demands were clear: they wanted the deed to the island, and they wanted to establish an Indian university, a cultural center, and a museum. The government refused to negotiate and insisted that they leave the island. By early 1970, the Indian's organization on the island began to disintegrate to such a point that Oakes left the island. After many months of declining leadership on the island and government attempts to oust the Native Americans and the growing drug culture, President Nixon gave the go ahead to develop a removal plan -- to take place when the smallest number of people were on the island and to use as little force as possible.
On June 10, 1971, the occupation ended. Shortly thereafter, the official government policy of termination of Indian tribes was ended and a policy of Indian self-determination became the official US government policy.
ALCATRAZ TODAY
The National Park Service administers Alcatraz Island as a unit
of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). A variety of
tours of the island are offered - for more information, visit
http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/
See the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse and
enjoy the island's many natural features - gardens, tide pools,
bird colonies, and breathtaking bay views. Be sure to wear sturdy
walking shoes and bring a jacket.
Copyright TourCorp Inc. 2003-09 - All Rights Reserved
ALCATRAZ TOUR PACKAGES - Reserve tickets online TODAY!
Popular Alcatraz Combination Tours
We offer One and Two day combination tour packages for Alcatraz.
Beware Alcatraz Ticket Tricks and Huge Overcharges. Don't be fooled or overcharged by other Alcatraz "Official" Ticket web sites. These overpriced web sites may charge you as much as $10.00 per ticket "service charge" or $ 3.95 per order "service fee" or both. We do not mark up Alcatraz Ferry and Audio Tour prices. We also do not advertise $7.00-8.00 child ticket prices for a 1 Hour Bay Cruise that goes around Alcatraz (not to Alcatraz) to lure you into our web site.
Compare and Save:
See and Compare Other Website Alcatraz Prices Here
We offer the published prices for Ferry and Audio Tour Tickets to Alcatraz.
All of our Alcatraz tickets are combined with a 2nd tour also at published prices.
We make a commission on selling you the 2nd tour. We don't think you should
pay as much as $13.95 extra and not get anything but a Alcatraz Ferry ticket and a
"service charge."
Thanks for visiting San Francisco and purchasing tickets from us.
Notice: Alcatraz Ferry departs from Pier 33.
Our great Combo Tours do include the Ferry Ride to Alcatraz and the Audio
Tour of the prison cell house. Reserve online today before you arrive
in the city. Remember: The ferry tickets to Alcatraz sell out weeks
in advance. There are a limited amount of tickets per day. Make sure
you get to see "The Rock" on your trip to San
Francisco. We DO NOT sell individual Alcatraz ferry tickets.
Former federal prison Alcatraz has become a must see activity for visitors to the Bay Area. Use our one stop tour shopping to plan your vacation! You will not be charged a markup on the Alcatraz Tickets PLUS eliminate Wharf parking fees with a hotel pick up for most of our motor coach tours. Plan your entire day here. BOOK EARLY! Alcatraz tours are often sold out over a week in advance!
Tour includes ferry cruise to the infamous and notorious former federal prison.
Also included is an Award-winning audio headset tour in the prison Cell House.
No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men who actually lived it.
The award-winning Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour brings history alive
through the actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates
who lived on the island during the infamous Federal Penitentiary era.
Hear both sides of life in the island prison including such famous events as escape attempts, "The Battle of '46", food riots, and surviving solitary confinement.
The new Cellhouse Audio Tour is an expanded version of the original award-winning tour and includes new stories, new narrators, and explores new areas of the Cellhouse. The tour is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese Dutch and Mandarin.
Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most popular visitor attractions and its
tours frequently sell out a week or more in advance. Tickets are rarely
available at the Box Office for same-day sailings. The Alcatraz Ferry
departs daily from Pier 33 Fisherman's Wharf in San
Francisco. "TourCorp" is Tour & Sightseeing Company and
we only offer Alcatraz Ferry Tickets as a planning convenience for our
clients. We do not mark up or add any service fees to the
cost of the Alcatraz Tickets. Due to high demand and limited tickets
for the Alcatraz ferry/audio tour- both your Sightseeing Tour and Ferry
reservations are pending until you receive a final confirmation e-mail from us.
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and Compare Other Website Alcatraz Prices Here
BOOK ALCATRAZ EARLY TO GET BEST DEPARTURE TIMES:
We recommend booking weekend Alcatraz at least 10-14 days in advance to ensure your requested tour time. Very limited tickets are available for holiday weekends. All holiday weekend cruises will sell out very early. Maximum 8 tickets per order.
If you wish to have Alcatraz reserved on a separate day or a specific time - please indicate that on the comments section of the order form.
INSTRUCTIONS:
By ordering this combination tour your authorize "TourCorp" to purchase Alcatraz Ferry tickets from Alcatraz Cruises. Current Alcatraz & Audio Tour Prices:
-
Day Tours: Adult: $26.00 * Junior 12-17: $26.00 * Seniors 62+: $24.50 * Child 5-11: $16.50
-
Night Tour: Adult: $33.00 * Junior 12-17: $32.00 * Seniors 62+: $30.50 * Child 5-11: $19.50
We will book your Alcatraz ticket for you upon receipt of your Combination Tour order. You will receive two travel vouchers and two separate credit card charges. All prices subject to change without notice. The National Park Pass is not applicable to the Alcatraz Tour. All Alcatraz Sales are Final. No exchanges, refunds or cancellations.
Best Seller 
A very limited amount of Night Alcatraz Tours are available from April - September 30: Daily Except Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:10pm and 6:40pm. Higher Night Tour rate will be charged. Please indicate if you want a Night Tour on your order. If Night tours are unavailable a day Alcatraz tour if available will be reserved for you.
MORE ALCATRAZ INFORMATION
If Alcatraz is Sold Out or you will be visiting Fisherman's Wharf, buy a
Wharf Pass.
Save with this One Low Price Admission Pass to the best Wharf Attractions,
Tours and Cruises.
Updated 02/02/2012 Copyright TourCorp Inc. 2003-09 All Rights Reserved
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