Alexander Tran | 25-year-old photographer | Boston x Seattle
Alcatraz Island Trip:
Back in January while I was doing my senior project in Silicon Valley, a few of my friends and I took an excursion to Alcatraz Island. This famous island was just a 15 minute ferry ride from Pier 33.
The $27 ferry ticket included access to all the attractions on the island, including a walking audio tour inside the retired prison.
It was very eerie walking down the halls of Alcatraz. The audio tour made it feel like you were there, way back when the prison was still occupied.
From the audio tour I learned the many violent outbreak attempts there were from the prison. The Gun Gallery, where many weapons were stored, was broken into and used for escape during the Battle of Alcatraz in May of 1946.
Although inside the prison was gloomy, the rest of the island was surprisingly peaceful. In fact while the prison was occupied, families used to live in houses on the island.
There is a great panoramic view of the city from the island. You could see both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. Being an inmate, it must be tough knowing you were so close yet so far away from the city.