Two Alcatraz Attractions On Display In San Francisco Hilton Hotels – For Free

Exhibits Showcases The Famous Prison’s History And Last Day

A part of Alcatraz Island comes to the mainland as two exhibits are on display at a pair of San Francisco hotels.

For free.

Alcatraz: Life on the Rock” and “Alcatraz: The Last Day” can be seen at the Hilton Union Square San Francisco and Parc 55 Hotel in “the City.” This is a temporary home thru Sept. 16.

Of course, you can still take Alcatraz Cruises to the island. Just be sure you make your reservations well in advance, such when planning your trip to San Francisco.

Below are descriptions of each exhibit.

 “Alcatraz: Life on the Rock”

“Alcatraz: Life on the Rock” is an exhibit that showcases Alcatraz Island’s fascinating history and infamous inmates. Specific installations include “How Do You Know Alcatraz?” which offers a compelling introduction, complete with a model of the island and a look at The Rock’s place in history and in movies.  Additionally, there are four quadrants that feature the following: a “Military History”; an authentic replica of a prison cell that is the centerpiece of the “Life on the Inside”; “Strength: The Native American Indian Occupation”; and “Preserving the Rock.”

“Alcatraz: The Last Day”

Upon the announcement of the Alcatraz Penitentiary closure in 1963, Life Magazine called upon California-based photographer Leigh Wiener to document the momentous occasion.  While Wiener had a large lay-out in the 1963 issue of Life Magazine, many of Wiener’s 300+ photographs that were captured on March 21, 1963 remained unpublished, filed away in his archive, until they were revealed 45 years later.

In 2008, while inventorying his late father’s photographic legacy of nearly 1/2 a million proof sheets and negatives, Devik Wiener would discover this treasure trove of images taken on the closing day of Alcatraz. Twenty five of these images are now on display to complement the exhibit “Alcatraz: Life on the Rock.”