Overview:

Located in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island is one of the most famous and mysterious places in the United States. Once home to a notorious maximum-security prison, Alcatraz was the site of some of the most daring escapes in US history. Today, it is a national historic landmark that celebrates the history of incarceration and is a popular tourist attraction. There are numerous tours and activities available on the island, including a 60-minute audio tour, a tour of the prison facilities, and a visit to the cells formerly occupied by Al Capone and Robert Stroud, the infamous 'Birdman of Alcatraz.' You can also explore the island’s many other attractions, such as the historic lighthouse, the Alcatraz Gardens, and the indigenous birds that call the island home. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in USA
Prominent Features:

1. Historical Importance: Alcatraz Island was home to the most notorious prison in America, which housed notorious criminals such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The prison was also the site for the Native American “Occupation” of 1969-1971, and has a long history of military use. 2. Lighthouse and Gardens: Alcatraz Island is home to the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States, established in 1854. Today, visitors can enjoy the beautiful gardens, bird and wildlife habitats, and spectacular panoramic views offered by the island. 3. Cellhouse Audio Tour: Visitors can experience the wonders of Alcatraz at its most chilling. The Audio Tour enables visitors to take a self-guided tour through the cellblock, featuring the stories, prison sounds, and music of the inmates. 4. Lighted Night Tours: Spectacularly eerie, visitors can arrange a night tour to see the dimly lit prison as if it were full of inmates and guards. A knowledgeable guide will take you through the prison, explaining the history and mystery of Alcatraz. 5. Museums and Exhibits: Inside the Cellhouse are the Call of Freedom Exhibit, with audio stories of former inmates and guards, and the Island of Alcatraz Exhibit, which details the history of the island's ownership and population. This national monument of USA portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Alcatraz Island, located 1.25 miles offshore from the San Francisco Bay in California, has a long and complex history. Since its discovery by Spanish explorer Juan de Ayala, the island has been used as a military fortification, a maximum security prison, and since 1972 a National Historic Landmark. The island was first discovered in 1775 by Spanish explorer Juan de Ayala. At the time Alcatraz was a barren island without trees, fresh water, or permanent inhabitants. In 1853, it became home to a military fortress, named Fort Alcatraz, created to defend San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Straits from potential attackers. During its life as a military site, Alcatraz held some of the most dangerous prisoners and was the only U.S. prison to ever successfully hold out against a takeover attempt. By the early 1930s, Alcatraz had been transformed from a military site into a maximum security prison, due to its remoteness, and its forbidding conditions made it the perfect place to incarcerate some of the most notorious gangsters, bank robbers, and bootleggers of the period. From 1934 to 1963, the island operated as a civilian federal prison, and over its time as a prison it held some of the most notorious criminals of the period, such as Al Capone, Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz), and George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly. The prison was closed in 1963, due to its prohibitively expensive running costs and deteriorating facilities, and in 1972, Alcatraz was made a National Historic Landmark. Although the prison buildings have mostly been removed, the island has become a major tourist attraction in recent decades, with visitors attracted to the remote beauty of Alcatraz and its turbulent history. You must visit one of these historical places in USA on your USA tour

Interesting facts:

1. Alcatraz is one of the most notorious prison in United States history. 2. It was officially known as the United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island. 3. The Island was first used by the US Army as a fort in 1859. 4. Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. 5. It housed some of the most notorious criminals in American history, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and the “Birdman of Alcatraz”, Robert Stroud. 6. It was a historic landmark and tourist attraction decades after it closed. 7. Alcatraz has been featured in several books, movies and television series such as “Escape From Alcatraz” and the “Rock”. 8. There are no known successful escape attempts from Alcatraz Island. 9. The island can only be accessed by ferryboats from the nearby town of San Francisco. 10. The island also features extensive hiking trails and 19 historic buildings, including the iconic Lighthouse and the Warden’s House. Visit one of the famous monuments of USA with your friends and family.