Alcatraz ferry terminal and historic prison tours

Alcatraz Island served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 and is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service. Alcatraz Cruises operates the authorized ferry service from Pier 33 to the island and provides visitor tours of the former prison and grounds. A well-known 1962 escape by three inmates is a documented historical event whose outcome remains debated.