Alcatraz Notebook is an independent English-language publication for people interested in Alcatraz Island, its history, and visiting San Francisco Bay.
About this publication
The site brings together short historical introductions and a practical visitor guide. It is not affiliated with the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or the FBI. It does not sell tickets, operate ferries, or provide booking support.
The domain name is the address of this publication. It does not identify an official ferry operator. Official visitor and reservation resources are linked and labeled throughout the guide.
Our editorial approach
We use primary institutional sources for dates, historical outlines, and visitor information. Each history page includes further reading. We keep uncertain outcomes uncertain, distinguish editorial observations from historical facts, and include the Indigenous occupation alongside the prison era.
Visitor information is dated because maintenance, schedules, and access change. A review date describes when the page was checked, not a promise that conditions will stay the same. Always consult the park and operator before traveling.
Photography and attribution
Photographs are credited to the source agencies or named photographers on the sources and image credits page. They illustrate the location and its history; their use does not imply agency endorsement.
Booking and park questions
For an existing ferry reservation, use the contact details in your confirmation or the official operator’s website. For park access and accessibility questions, use the relevant NPS links in our visitor guide. This publication has no reservation system or customer service desk for those organizations.