In the 1940s, incarcerated men were allowed to tend to the gardens of Alcatraz. Joseph Simpson

• Named La Isla de los Alcatraces over 250 years ago by Spanish explorers. 
• Became a U.S. military reservation in 1850, part of San Francisco’s “Triangle of Defense.” 
• Operated as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963, holding some of the most high-profile prisoners in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• Occupied by Native American activists from 1969 to 1971, a defining moment in the Indigenous civil rights movement.
• Added to the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972, was opened to the public in 1973, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
• Replaced by a generation of “Supermax” prisons that carry on the practice of harsh conditions and ultra-high security.  Today’s federal supermax prisons include ADX Florence in Florence, Colorado.  It is commonly called “The Alcatraz of the Rockies.”
• See this National Park Service link for more Alcatraz History.

Today, Alcatraz is not just a place—it’s a purpose. It uses its complex legacy to spark public dialogue, connecting the past to some of the most pressing issues facing our nation today.

Rendering of the future Alcatraz Embarkation Plaza. Courtesy Heller Manus Architects

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises, and the Port of San Francisco, is contributing to the revitalization of the Alcatraz Embarkation site at Piers 31–33, part of the Embarcadero Historic District.  This location is one of America’s busiest gateways to a national park site, with up to 5,500 people passing through daily on their way to Alcatraz.

• A new café is set to open at Pier 31 in summer 2026—a 3,760-square-foot indoor-outdoor space featuring locally inspired food, drinks, and a full bar. A new interpretive retail store will follow soon after, as part of the broader transformation of the Alcatraz Embarkation Plaza. Once complete, the reimagined plaza will serve as a vibrant public space, a community-centered entry point to Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. 
• Located near Pier 39, the Ferry Building, and the Exploratorium, the new plaza will become one of San Francisco’s most iconic cultural gateways. 

A visitor looks back at the island after a day of touring Alcatraz. Ryan Curran White / Parks Conservancy

Read the op-ed by Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy President & CEO Chris Lehnertz on why sustained investment in national park sites like Alcatraz is essential for our future. Read more ›› 

Recently, the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act was introduced to reauthorize the Restoration Legacy Fund and provide up to $11.2 billion over eight years for critical park maintenance needs.   

Originally authorized in 2020, the Restoration Legacy Fund has already invested in critical maintenance for Alcatraz Island:

• $40.2 million – Alcatraz Wharf Stabilization (FY22): Reinforcing the historic 1939 landing structure to ensure safer and more reliable visitor access. 
• $63.5 million – Historic Structure Rehabilitation (FY23): Preserving the main prison building and hospital wing, safeguarding Alcatraz's cultural legacy. 

These projects are part of a broader effort to address the $540 million maintenance backlog within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. 

Continued funding authorized through the America the Beautiful Act is essential to maintain and enhance Alcatraz Island, ensuring it remains a vital and accessible part of America's natural and historical heritage.

A Peregrine Falcon with its chicks in a rocky nest on Alcatraz Island in spring 2024. Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy / NPS

Today, Alcatraz Island is a powerful symbol—a National Historic Landmark preserved for all time, a transformative national park experience and global site of reflection. More than 1.4 million people visit each year to engage with its full story: from incarceration to Indigenous resistance to ongoing conversations about justice and equity. This is where history speaks—and where we learn from the past to shape a better future. 

“Alcatraz is a place where the past meets the present,” said Christine Lehnertz, President & CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. “It challenges us to listen, to learn, and to carry forward the stories that still shape our world today.”  

As the nonprofit partner to the National Park Service, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is proud and committed to keeping Alcatraz a bold civic space—open to all, driven by dialogue, and dedicated to justice, inclusion, and deeper understanding. 

Head to our YouTube channel to hear from William Baker—former Alcatraz inmate turned storyteller—who reflects on his past and connects with new generations. 

Alcatraz is also a critical ecological site: 

• Home to over 20,000 birds, including more than 5,000 nesting shorebirds such as grebes, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and western gulls. Every year several species migrate to Alcatraz Island for breeding season and continue the cycle of life. You can find more information at this link: Birds of Alcatraz  
• The Alcatraz Historic Gardens include historic, native, and rare blooms, a living testament to the island’s layered past—transformed by soldiers, families of the Bureau of Prisons living on the island, incarcerated people, and now, our team of dedicated volunteers. 

Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series at Alcatraz Dave Rauenbuehler / NPS

Some of the Programs Currently on Alcatraz to explore visiting Alcatraz, purchase tickets here.

• The Big Lockup and We Hold the Rock exhibits 
• Night Tours and Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the cellhouse 
• Speaker series featuring formerly incarcerated individuals 
• Book signings by former prison guards and inmates  
• Programs that bring together scholars, artists, and activists to explore systemic change 
• Co-creation of exhibits and educational content with Native partners that highlight the story of the 1969–71 Occupation by the Indians of All Tribes, which drew national attention to treaty rights, sovereignty, and Indigenous visibility 
• Annual Sunrise Ceremonies honoring Indigenous resilience and resistance

Tipi commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Alcatraz Occupation Ryan Curran White/Parks Conservancy

Alcatraz is not a blank slate—it is a living site of history, memory, and momentum. It challenges us to learn from the past and shape a future rooted in justice, truth, and inclusion.