It makes sense that when most people think of Alcatraz Island, they think of it in terms of being the former site of a maximum security prison.  That’s certainly the part of its history that has been the most publicized. However, that’s not the entire story – it’s also served as a military post, a military prison, and was briefly occupied by Native Americans.

Through all of those years of occupation, however, there has one common denominator – the gardens of Alcatraz. They were started by military families in the 1800s and enlarged and tended for by correctional officers, their families, and a handful of prisoners from the 1930s to the 1960s. However, when the federal prison was closed in 1963, the gardens fell into decline – but they did not disappear. Though many plants died from the lack of irrigation, and others took over, there was much that could be salvaged. 

In 2003, the Garden Conservancy and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy formed a partnership with the National Park Service to rebuild the gardens. A team was formed to inventory what remained of earlier gardens, to make plans for the reestablishing the gardens, and to set up a volunteer-gardener program. The Gardens of Alcatraz project has been able, by talking with people who visited or lived on the island previously, and by studying historic photos, to gain a good picture of how the gardens looked in earlier times. The team spent a year removing accumulated plant debris and in the process uncovered old terraces, paths, railings, and foundations.  Many were slated for repair or replacement.

From the earliest days, getting water on the island has been problematical – much of it has been brought over from San Francisco. However, the project has also worked to reduce the dependency on imported water by choosing plants adapted to the environment, mulching and composting, collecting rainwater, and recycling waste water when possible.

When visitors nowadays tour the island, they have the opportunity to learn more about five major garden areas:  the Main Road, Officers’ Row, Warden’s House/Cellhouse Slope, West Side Gardens and Rose Terrace — all of which are maintained by Garden Conservancy staff and volunteers.  Docents can point out plants that survived through the years of neglect and those that have been newly planted to replace plants that weren’t hardy enough to survive on their own.

The Gardens of Alcatraz – the “softer” side of Alcatraz – should be on every resident’s and visitor’s “Best Walk” list. While touring the gardens involves walking only about half a mile (with an elevation gain of approximately 130 feet), you can extend your hike by walking to San Francisco’s Pier 33 to catch the ferry. From the Embarcadero BART station it’s a pleasant, flat, 30-minute walk along the Embarcadero.  Then on your way back to BART, stop by the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street to have a bite to eat, or shop in the upscale shops for cheese, bread, books and more. It will add even more flavor to your memorable visit to Alcatraz and San Francisco.

Details:

• Docent led garden tours are free of additional charge (to find ferry schedules and fees, click here.)
• Docent tours of the gardens are held Fridays and Sundays at 9:30 AM. To take one of these tours, catch the first ferry from Pier 33 in San Francisco.
• Docents are also available Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until Noon. They are in the garden at Officers’ Row for a garden talk and to answer questions. 
• At your leisure, you can take a self-guided tours with the help of a brochure (pick one up on the island) or click here for the PDF.  
• Food and beverages are sold on the ferries. No food is sold on Alcatraz, but can be eaten by the loading dock. Water bottles can be taken anywhere. There are restrooms.
• Wear comfortable shoes and layers of clothing.

To read Hiking and the Gardens of Alcatraz, part 1, click here.