From cellblocks to selfies: Tourists flock to Alcatraz as Trump floats prison comeback

(6 May 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS San Francisco - 6 May 2025 1. Alcatraz ferry arrives to pick up tourists 2. Various ferry ride to Alcatraz 3. Disembarking on Alcatraz 4. Alcatraz Island National Park Service sign 5. Various park rangers standing in front of old prison guard tower 6. Old deteriorating building outside the main cell house 7. Park ranger gives an informative tour for visitors 8. Cellhouse entrance 9. Various tourists check out the prison cells 10. Various dining hall 11. Various guard station 12. Various re-creation of cells of prisoners who may have escaped by using dummies and digging hole in cell 13. "Escape from Alcatraz" poster on sale inside gift shop 14. Various scenic shots of island 15. Guard tower in front of San Francisco Bay STORYLINE: President Donald Trump has said he’d like to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous island lockup in the middle of San Francisco Bay, turning it from a tourist hotspot back to a maximum-security fortress. But what is it actually like to visit it today? Alcatraz is a top destination for visitors from around the world. You catch a ferry from San Francisco's waterfront, cruise across the bay, and arrive at what’s now a National Historic Landmark. Guests explore the old cellhouse, listen to recorded stories from former guards and inmates, and even stand inside the tiny cells that once held criminals like Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. It’s part history lesson, part eerie adventure, and for critics of Trump's idea, definitely not a place that's ready to house prisoners again. Alcatraz has been out of commission as a prison for more than 60 years. The prison was shut down in 1963 because it was falling apart and too expensive to run. Today, many of the buildings are deteriorating and would need massive, expensive repairs to be usable. Plus, reopening it could come with a mountain of red tape. The island is protected by the National Park Service and home to nesting seabirds and other wildlife. Turning it back into a prison wouldn’t just mean rebuilding, it could also mean lawsuits, environmental reviews, and major pushback from the local community. Alcatraz remains a powerful symbol of America’s prison past, but for now, likely not its future =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...