The cellhouse
Audio tour.
Rhododendrites — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nickey Ca — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Steven Lek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Laika ac from UK — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Stan Fong — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hichi — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Missvain — CC0 · Dietmar Rabich — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small rocky island in San Francisco Bay about two kilometres offshore, near the Golden Gate strait. From the mid-19th century it held a lighthouse, military fortifications and a military prison, and in 1934 it became a federal penitentiary. Strong currents and cold water made escape nearly impossible, giving the prison one of the most notorious reputations in American history until it closed on 21 March 1963. The island is now a visitor attraction, with about 1.4 million people a year. Visitors walk through the cellhouse with an audio tour telling the stories of the prison, its guards, its inmates and the escape attempts, and see the oldest working lighthouse on the US West Coast, the island's gardens and superb views of the city skyline and the bridge. It is reached only by ferry, and the adult day tour costs about $48 including the ferry and audio tour, per visitor guides. Tickets sell out weeks ahead, so book early with the official operator, and bring a jacket against the wind.
Audio tour.
Oldest on the coast.
From the island.
San Francisco Bay, about 2 km offshore
Only by ferry from San Francisco; tickets sell out early, so book with the official operator weeks ahead.