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The Social Hall, also known as the Officers' Club, was a social club located on the northwestern side of the island of Alcatraz, off the coast of San Francisco, USA. Located in close proximity to the Power House, water tower and Former Military Chapel (Bachelor Quarters), it formerly housed the post exchange. [1]
The Social Hall, also known as the Officers' Club, was a social club located on the northwestern side of the island of Alcatraz, off the coast of San Francisco, USA.
Apr 3, 2019 · For three decades, until the penitentiary closed in 1963, this was the center of the island's social scene. Earlier, between 1910 and 1933, while Alcatraz was a military prison, army families stationed on the island came here to the Post Exchange—the island's general store, cafeteria, barbershop, and post office.
- Be Sure to Book Ahead
- Wear Layers and Comfortable Shoes
- Arrive Early For Boarding at Pier 33
- Pick Up An Audio Tour at The Cell Block
- You Can Experience A Jail Cell
- The Island Has Its Own Lighthouse
- Look For Signs of The Native American Occupation
- The National Park Service Tour Is Worth It
- The Old Officers’ Club Has Quite A History
- Plan to Bring Your Own Food
If you postpone making a tour reservation until the week you are visiting San Francisco, you may be disappointed. Book at least a few weeks in advance, if possible — you can order tickets up to three months in advance. Only one company, Alcatraz Cruises, sells tickets for island tours. Go online and choose a day tour, night tour, or behind-the-scen...
You’ll be walking up steep hills and old steps, so wear flat-soled shoes. I wore tennis shoes that were nicely cushioned, which turned out to be perfect for the somewhat uneven paths and worn stairways. San Francisco can be chilly even in the summer, and fog and rain are common. A windbreaker jacket is a good idea at any time of year. Dress in laye...
It’s tour day! With your pre-purchased timed ticket in hand, head for Pier 33 about a half-hour early to check in. The numbered piers on the wharf begin at the Ferry Building and go in order toward the popular Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf just beyond. You’ll have no trouble finding Pier 33. Board the boat at your assigned time and settle in for a ...
Disembark at the dock, right next to the iconic guard tower. Listen to the brief orientation talk given by a National Park Service guide, then head up a hill to the main attraction of your tour: the prison cell blocks. Alcatraz is best known for its years as a federal prison (from 1934 to 1963), though in earlier years it served as a fort. Enter th...
At Alcatraz, you can go inside a few of the cells and get a good feel for life behind bars. Look out at your fellow tourists wandering the hallways at leisure and envy them. When I first visited Alcatraz, a guide would shut the door of the solitary confinement cell, leaving you in total silence and darkness. That’s no longer an option — I’m guessin...
After hearing the stories of the prisoners and guards and wandering up and down the cell blocks, you’ll emerge from the main prison building, and right in front of you you’ll see a tall lighthouse. Built in 1854 at the tip of the island, the lighthouse burned in 1970, but most of it survived, and it is operational today. The shell of a large house ...
A water tower rises above the north end of the island, and it tells of another era in the history of Alcatraz. Native American activists from San Francisco occupied the island for 19 months starting in 1969. They claimed the land for “Indians of All Tribes” (the name the occupiers gave themselves). When the last occupiers were removed from the isla...
Alcatraz Island is now maintained and run by the National Park Service, which offers informative free tours throughout the day. Check the schedule of tours when you arrive at the dock. I took the tour on escapes from Alcatraz and learned about the cell area where one escape attempt happened. The guide explained the differences between bar shapes an...
Take a few minutes to examine the large ruined building just above the dock. This was at one time the Post Exchange and Officers’ Club. It’s mind-boggling that during its time as a federal prison, Alcatraz also housed the families of the prison officials in close proximity to the prisoners. Those who were raised on Alcatraz remember the Officers’ C...
I spent about four hours on Alcatraz. There’s plenty to see in that much time, but I was there at lunchtime, and I got hungry. No food is sold on the island, but you can pack snacks or a lunch, and I was so glad I did. Visitors are only allowed to eat in the picnic area beside the dock, which sounds restrictive. But there is a good reason for this....
- Sharon Odegaard
When Alcatraz became a federal penitentiary, this building was dubbed the “Officers’ Club.” Soon known by island residents as the “Social Hall,” it was used by prison staff and their families for parties, dances, and other sorts of recreation.
Alcatraz Island is the site of the abandoned federal prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony (mostly western gulls, cormorants, and egrets ).
The Social Hall, also known as the Officers' Club, was a social club located on the northwestern side of the island of Alcatraz, off the coast of San Francisco, USA. Located in close proximity to the Power House, water tower and Former Military Chapel (Bachelor Quarters), it formerly housed the post exchange.
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