Alcatraz Island

Alice Park

Amy Meyer

James B. McPherson

Waterbirds, which nested on Alcatraz Island long before people built upon it, have been reclaiming parts of the island in recent decades. But Alcatraz Natural Resources staff hadn't seen anything quite like the 2021 nesting season. It was one for the record books, with numbers far surpassing previous years' estimates. It’s been quite a journey for one species in particular—the Brandt’s cormorant. The Island's great blue herons and peregrine falcons also had a good year.

Beneath the prison block at Alcatraz Island sits the foundation of a U.S. Army fortification built in the 1850s. Once four stories tall and surrounded by a dry moat, the fort was razed to the foundation in 1909 to make way for the current prison building. This "dungeon" space was repurposed numerous times throughout Alcatraz Island’s history. Explore the citadel via HDP's virtual tour, point cloud, animation, and archival HABS documentation.

Alcatraz Island is a 22.5 acre historic district located in California's San Francisco Bay, and holds a commanding position at the entrance of the bay. Fog and high winds pour in from the Pacific Ocean to buffet the island's 50-foot-tall cliffs. The island contains the Pacific Coast's oldest lighthouse, military fortifications, and, most famously, a federal prison.

During the waterbird nesting season on Alcatraz Island (~March-September), docents are stationed near the colonial waterbird colonies. Using spotting scopes and binoculars to view waterbirds incubating eggs or feeding chicks, docents teach visitors about the ecology of nesting gulls, cormorants, herons, and egrets. However, waterbirds are not Alcatraz’s only avian inhabitants. In the winter months, these same waterbird docents assist with Island-wide bird counts.

A fire engine once used for the famed prison on Alcatraz Island was restored to its former glory and greets visitors to “The Rock.”

How can innovation help us meet our sustainability goals? At Golden Gate National Recreation Area, park staff partner with Alcatraz City Cruises to meet unprecedented problems with unprecedented solutions. They’ve pushed to be on the cutting edge of sustainable technology by investing in the nation’s first hybrid-electric passenger ferries.

This GAOA funded project will repair and seismically strengthen the concrete wharf on Alcatraz Island, a contributing feature of the Alcatraz Island National Historic Landmark District. Stabilization of the island’s point of access will ensure that visitors, government, concession, and park partners have consistent, safe access to the island. Park offices and visitor services, managed by several partners, are located on the wharf and will also be protected by this project.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area has attained carbon-neutral park operations, arriving at a major milestone set forth in the park’s Climate Change Action Plan a full year ahead of schedule! As of 2019, the park is using 100% renewable electricity and offsetting additional emissions from park operations by purchasing carbon offsets.