Alcatraz -- Dock

The original dock was completed on the present site in 1854.  It has been enlarged and modified several times over the years.  Prisoners were unloaded on this very dock.

The large, four-story building immediately opposite the dock was once a military barracks.  The ground floor was built between 1865 and 1867.  It currently houses the theater, bookstore, and exhibits.  The building has 10-foot-thick brick walls and is virtually bomb-proof.  It was intended to house soldiers and cannons to guard the dock.

This building was originally designed to be a two-story building, but only the first floor was built.  The cannons became obsolete before they could be mounted, though a row of brick casements can still be seen along today's dock.

The restored Guard Tower located on the dock is a remnant of the federal penitentiary era.  During those years, six free-standing towers were manned by armed guards whose clear view was designed to make it extremely difficult for prisoners to attempt to escape without being seen.

Today, ferry boats unload and load visitors all day long.  Alcatraz is the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, and it is a very busy place.

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Click on each of the topics below to read about the history of Alcatraz:

Alcatraz the Early Years -- Alcatraz the Fort -- Alcatraz the Prison --
The Native American Occupation -- Natural Alcatraz -- Alcatraz the Tourist Attraction

Click on each of the headings below to read about each of the major areas at Alcatraz:

The Dock -- Guardhouse and Sally Port -- Post Exchange - Officers' Club -- Military Chapel --  Barracks - Apartments -- Warden's House -- Lighthouse -- Cellhouse -- The Gardens

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For tickets and tours, contact Alcatraz Media at www.alcatraz.us,
or call 866-268-8729 or 415-461-4608.