More than a landmark: Alcatraz is a living reminder of our past and our potential

Alcatraz is no longer about locking people away—it’s about opening minds.  

The island is a powerhouse of American tourism, drawing over 1.4 million visitors a year and generating $60 million in annual revenue. 

“Protecting Alcatraz means protecting a global site of reflection, where people come to learn and grow,” said Christine Lehnertz, President & CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. “If we lose that, we lose more than a landmark—we lose an opportunity to do better.” 

Reopening Alcatraz as a prison would erase decades of progress and miss the point of what this place has become. The island is working—not as a prison, but as a national park that brings history, nature, and people together in a way few places can. 

Alcatraz is where the past meets the present—and a reminder that national parks aren't just about preservation, they’re about possibility. That’s the future we’re committed to protecting. 

Stand with national parks like Alcatraz: Visit the island this summer for transformative experiences like the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series and more.

Media: Contact media(at)parksconservancy.org