The Cellhouse at Alcatraz, San Francisco, California.
This place is just eerie but fascinating – it is hard to imagine what prison life was like on this cold, remote island.
I took the tour to Alcatraz some 20 years ago and thought it was one of San Francisco’s best kept secrets. At the time the boat ride alone was worth the price of admission. Today the place is anything but a secret. Alcatraz was so crowded with visitors all walking at the same pace listening to the prerecorded message on Ipod like devices, that it is almost hard to pass through some areas. But, the recordings are really well done and include first hand accounts from guards and former prisoners. Really the whole place is a very unique experience and should be near the top of the list for any visit to San Francisco. Just be sure to swing by a day or two before to buy you tickets.
Comments 8
Hey Ron,
Wow, I bet that is weird to walk through there. Very weird.
Cool shot.
Cheers
Carl
I love the cell with the dummies from “Escape from Alcatraz,” and the inmate’s story about the escape. The crowds usually depend on the season/weather. Winter mornings are usually pretty easy. But warm, sunny days any other time of year can be very crowded.
I went there a long time ago and sat inside the solitary confinement cell briefly. Gave me the creeps!
Well worth the admission though I agree.
Author
@ Carl – Thanks man, it is a very weird place.
@ Scott That makes sense – I was there for some very warm weather, I’m sure that didn’t help.
@ Richard – I did that once briefly as well – very creepy!
Amazing photo! Wow, that really captures a feeling that I can’t describe, great depth. Thanks for sharing Ron! Makes me want to go there and check it out!
ruthie
A tip about Alcatraz: Take the last tour of the day. You’ll get an amazing boat ride to view the city and Alcatraz’s tour is even more special at night! Take a warm jacket, hat and coat.
Awesome pictures Ron!
Not sure if they still do it, but I always wanted to do the Alcatraz at night tour, used to be offered only around Halloween. As a local, Alcatraz seems to be one of the last touristy things we end up doing. Took me 4 years of living in San Francisco before I finally took the tour!
Author
@ Ruthie – It is really cool, and San Francisco is a fun town, you should check it out sometime!
Hey Ken – Great to hear from you and thanks for the tip! They were offering a new tour a couple of times a week, but they were booked for the next week or more – the first opening was after we left. Next time! Thanks!
Hi Greg, That is funny – although when I was in OC, I never went to Disneyland until someone visited. That night tour looks cool, and they seem to offer it year around on certain nights of the week – I would check it out.