Robert Lipscomb, a Black man from Cleveland, Ohio, grew up during the Great Depression and, after a traumatic and destabilizing childhood, eventually ended up in the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary where he agitated for social change.

Parks Conservancy products, from iconic park posters to intriguing books, are unlike anything else you can gift. They’re created by local people, using artifacts and inspiration from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and all proceeds play a vital part in supporting our beloved parklands.

Building a more expansive and intentional language is an ongoing process. These five steps can help you get started.

For nearly 30 years, Ranger Benny Batom has uncovered Alcatraz Island’s lesser-known history to bring untold stories to visiting students. He works to facilitate dialogue addressing contemporary issues around incarceration and justice. We sat down with Ranger Benny to ask him about his history and this moment.

This year we’ve missed seeing volunteers, program participants, students, and the rest of our park community in person—but we’ve been so inspired by what we’ve been able to do together at a distance. Going into the fall, some sites that were closed throughout the summer are now open and providing...

After a 2018 season of smoke and haze, GGRO Director Allen Fish explored impacts of air pollution on birds in his 2019 article for Pacific Raptor 40. As first responders battle wildfires across the state each year, we again wonder what effect these extreme climate phenomenon will have on raptor health and movement.

Red-tailed Hawks! This season was full of them. The 2018 field season ended with 342 Redtails banded-almost 100 Redtails above our 10-year average.

In this article, we’ll get you set up with some tips to explore Alcatraz like a seasoned park ranger. Visit for those views, for the lush gardens, and the history that ties into present-day social justice movements. Here are some of our insider tips.

The western pond turtle hasn’t been observed in the Rodeo Valley Watershed since 1998. This year, the fourth year of a five-year reintroduction plan, biologists reintroduced 20 turtles to Rodeo Valley and 14 to Redwood Creek Watershed.

For the first time in recorded history, peregrine falcons have nested on Alcatraz Island! After months of observating the pair, park biologists have spotted two fledglings.