Thursday, November 15, 2007

Pier 39/Alcatraz


We took the bus from Sausilito over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. We went to Pier 39 and looked around, quite cool there. All kinds of neat shops and everything- They are decorating for Christmas - it looks beautiful except for the huge tree that they cut down to put in the center. Don't know why they just can't grow one there. They did the same thing at Jack London Square....

Went to Alcatraz in the afternoon. Very neat, I wouldn't want to have been there though. The cells are small, (bigger than our staterooms however) The audio tour was fantastic, very informative and sometimes too graffic for Emma ( she didn't like the guns and knife sounds from the inmates trying to escape or fighting) I sound like you were really there when it was happening.

The gardens are beautiful and all kinds of birds. It's a national park now and both Maya and Emma became junior park rangers!! Quite the history this island has - military prison, federal prison, indian's trying to take back the land to a national park. We saw the video there about all. Well worth going to when you are in San Francisco. Steve even bought himself an Alcatraz harmonica!! There were a few attempts to escape but all but 3 were recaptured. However, it is believed the last three drowned but no one knows for sure. their bodies never were found and nothing was heard of them.

Trivia question #3 Name one famous criminal who was at Alcatraz?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robert Stroud (Birdman!)
look at me being the first!!!
Was Ma Barker too? Another was Mickey Cohen.
Sorry, I missed your call yesterday, I'm looking forward to talking to you, please try again. Not today though, I'm working at the front desk, and have school after that.
Love you all so much!!
Auntie Danny Lou

Annette said...

The Birdman wasn't the only famous resident of Alcatraz. Al Capone (Scarface), George Kelly (Machine Gun Kelly), and Arthur Barker (Doc Barker) were residents. Floyd Hamilton was also incarcerated at Alcatraz.....he was a driver for Bonnie & Clyde.

Alvin Karpis (one of the Barker boys) holds the dubious distinction of being in Alcatraz for the longest stay: 25 years, 1 month).

I'm glad you guys made it there. It's a pretty interesting place.
Annette

Anonymous said...

Hi Steve Glad I found your blog thanks to a Google search for ORCA
I'll be happily following your journey. Sounds and looks great. albertmurphy@telus.net

Anonymous said...

Hi Folks, what an interesting family adventure, I enjoyed your pictures and it looks like you have some very knowledgeable readers. It was a pleasure meeting you on the Island. TTYL, Ranger Dave.

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