Field file 15 · Museum · California
Alcatraz Island
San Francisco, California · San Francisco Bay · Island prison
Record
Why it matters
A former military fort and federal prison on a cold, exposed island in San Francisco Bay.
Field note
The island is reached by the authorized ferry. Build the day around the crossing and the site's layered military, prison, and occupation history.
Evidence line
This file is marked Documented because the place and its history are supported by the linked authoritative source. Practical details were last checked in July 2026. Conditions change. Check the primary source before leaving home.
Access
How to approach it lawfully
Book the official ferry and prepare for steep grades and changing weather.
- Access status
- Ticketed. Public access with paid admission or a required ticket. Recorded as: Authorized ferry access.
- Reservation
- Book the official ferry in advance.
- Seasonality
- No seasonal limit recorded. Hours still change; check before traveling.
Practical details last checked July 2026. Conditions change. Check the primary source before leaving home.
Plan the stop
What to plan for
- Time
- 3 to 5 hours
- Cost
- Ferry ticket required (Ticketed)
- Terrain
- Steep grades and changing weather on the island.
- Mobility
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
- Parking
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
- Weather
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
Directions to the public entrance Opens Google Maps with these coordinates. The provider sees them under its own privacy policy. Confirm the entrance against the official source first.
Record
Sources
- Primary sourceNational Park Service , opens in a new tab
Sources are summarized in the Atlas's own words and checked on the dates shown. See the methodology, or send a correction.
Road file
Carry it forward
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Book the tour, not the trouble.
No partner link on this file. Use the official source for tickets and tours. How partner links work.