Setting Foot on Alcatraz Island

American history, crime buffs and curiosity seekers coming to San Francisco should set foot on Alcatraz Island. This legendary spot of land has served many functions including a military prison, a civil war front, a site occupied by the American Indian Movement (AIM) and one of the US's most notorious federal penitentiaries. Some of the famous inmates who spent time in The Rock included Robert Stroud "Birdman of Alcatraz," Al Capone, and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Roy Gardner, Alvin Karpis, and Henri Young.

A range of tours are available to suit one's particular interests and schedules. Allow at least two and a half hours to really tour the island.

The day tours offer a 45 minute audio show titled "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour" that features the voices of some correctional officers and prisoners who lived and worked on Alcatraz, tours led by docents and rangers, orientation video by Discovery Channel; ranger and docent tours, and a chance to stroll around the historic gardens and view some of the abundant wildlife present on this island. Those who want to avoid the crowds should check out the Early Bird tour that departs at 9:00am.

From Thursday to Monday, night tours, which were rated "Best Tour of the Bay Area" affords the opportunity to explore Alcatraz with a live narrated cruise around the island, a guided tour from the dock to the prison, as well as special thematic tours only available during the evening. Be sure to stop and capture the spectacular views of the sunsets under the Golden Gate Bridge. Also, note that one cannot tour the exterior gardens during the evening tours.

Those interested in exploring immigration history might want to the combination Alcatraz and Angel Island tours. Angel Island State Park, the Ellis Island of the West, served as one of the West Coasts major disembarkation point for US emigrants. This tour first goes to Alcatraz where visitors can take in the full Alcatraz tour available on the day tours. Then, depart for Angel Island State Park and partake of a one-hour narrated motorized tram tour of the island. Afterward, enjoy the range of hiking trails, campgrounds and other outdoor activities available on this island. Be sure to allow for about five and a half hours if you want to visit both islands.

A full schedule of departure times for each tour, pricing information and other information can be found on their website.