Alcatraz as a Tourist Attraction Essay - 3109 Words

Its 1934, prohibition is the law, and organized crime is booming. Youve been convicted of tax evasion and have spent the last couple years at the Atlanta U.S. Penitentiary. With several thousand dollars stuffed in the hollow handle of your tennis racket, and a warden in your pocket, youve been living life like a king. But all thats about to come to and end, you find yourself standing on Pier 41, Fishermans Warf, San Francisco bay. Its early morning and the fog obscures your view. As it starts to lift and recede into the ocean, it takes along with it all forms of courage and hope that still remain within you. All thats left is the view before you, twenty-two acres of solid granite surrounded by a fast moving sea of icy waters.†¦show more content†¦The weather on the island is cold and windy most to the time, and, with exception to the other tourist, the feeling you get while there is one of bitterness and despair. So how has this island managed to survive this long? It has su rvived through the interest of the people that do not inhabit it. It has survived because of tourism. So how has Alcatraz transformed from one of the most feared prisons of its time, to one of San Franciscos most popular tourist attractions? I feel this question demands an answer because no other prison in U.S. history has ever been so popular for so many different reasons. It started as a U.S. Army fort, then became a high security prison, was then the inspiration to the Indian Movement, and ended its career to this day as a popular tourist attraction. I feel that the fears and stories that have escaped from the island during the time it was a federal prison, have heightened peoples curiosity about what it was like to be a prisoner of The Rock. Each day more and more people venture to Pier 41, they buy their ticket aboard the Old Blue, and start their adventure to the island of the unknown. Experience the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary (Blue Gold Fleet, 2001). This is one of the many advertisements the Blue Gold Fleet offer to tourist in hopes of attracting business. And a fter waiting in line for over an hour just to get tickets, I dont think they need to worry aboutShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Tourist Motivation and Behaviour Concerning Dark Tourism Sites3254 Words   |  14 PagesUnderstanding tourist motivation concerning the term dark tourism with a focus on Alcatraz Table of Content 1. Introduction 3 2. Abstract 4 3. The definition development of dark tourism 5 4. The different types of Dark Tourism 6 4.1. Holocaust Tourism 6 4.2. Battlefield tourism 6 4.3. Cemetery Tourism 7 4.4. Slavery-Heritage Tourism 7 4.5. Prison tourism 7 5. Motivation factors vary from person to person. 7 5.1. Belonging to a particular community and education 7 5.2. Concept of SchadenfreudeRead MoreDid Anyone Ever Escape Alcatraz? Essay1000 Words   |  4 Pagesthere escape from Alcatraz, but it cannot be proven. It has been fifty years since their escape and we still have no evidence as to whether or not they ever even lived. Alcatraz has become one of the most haunted places in America and was home to some of Americas most notorious criminals. Some will choose to believe that the ghosts of Alcatraz exist, but others may not. So, why did Alcatraz shut down? How did the prisoners escape and are they alive? The famous Alcatraz Island is located inRead MoreThe Most Famous Prison Of The United States1255 Words   |  6 PagesAlcatraz was one of the most famous prison in the Unites States, located in the Californian San Francisco Bay. The prison was renowned for being inescapable, and the m0ost high security prison of the time. This probably was due to it’s location, which was on Alcatraz island, located around a mile away from shore, surrounded by the supposedly shark infested, strong currents, ice cold water of the bay. Today, the prison is only used as a tourist attraction, a mere shadow of what it once was. (DeconstructingRead More Alcatraz Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesFrancisco Bay, they crash up against an island standing in the strait. This rock is hidden by the fog and isolated by the chilling waters of the Pacific that flow in and out every day. It has a gloom that hangs about its rocky face most know it as Alcatraz but the men who experienced this island, referre d to her as â€Å"The Rock†. To the men confined there, it is not only the ultimate in isolation but the most ironic because they are there in the midst of the activity of a busy harbor with small craftRead MoreSouthwest Essay781 Words   |  4 Pagesfishing, hunting, four wheeling and boat riding. The south is well known for their southern hospitality, and kind-hearted people. It is also known as the one of the largest tourist attractions. Between Atlanta, Georgia where Stone Mountain is located to Orlando, Florida the home none other than Walt Disney World. If the major attractions are not your thing do not worry. The South is also known for their white sandy beaches, and hot sunny days. We also cannot forget the â€Å"football†, and the multiple NationalRead MoreThe Dark Tourism, The Concept1945 Words   |  8 Pages2. Literature Review: 2.1 Dark Tourism, the concept. 2.1.1 Definition Tourism comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning â€Å"to circle† Since the beginning of civilisation, people have been drawn â€Å"towards sites, attractions or events that are somehow linked to negative historical events where death, violence, suffering or disaster played a major role† (Sharpley and Stone, 2009). Dark Tourism is a growing phenomenon that which academics are still yet to fully understand. The concept of Dark TourismRead MoreImpact of Visist California in Tourism1349 Words   |  6 PagesThe 37 members Visit California commission include individuals from all 12 regions of California and they manage all properties of those regions (About Visit California, 2014). They provide services like â€Å"accommodations, restaurants and retail, attractions and recreation, transportation and travel services, and the passenger car rental industry† (About Visit California, 2014). Visit California is composed of many sources of income, such as sale taxes, fees, and more. Overall Revenue Visit CaliforniaRead MoreNemo Dat1336 Words   |  6 Pagescontract that stated that he owned the Eiffel Tower while Lustig was handed a real check. The Count and Dapper Dan quickly cashed their earnings and just as quickly fled France for Austria. Lustig never did say how much he got paid for Frances top tourist attraction Resting in Vienna they scanned the newspapers to see if Poisson went to the police; he didnt. Poisson was too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened. After a months vacation Lustig and Dapper Dan decided to do it again. This time theyRead MoreAl Capone: One of the Most Ruthless Men of All Time1958 Words   |  8 Pagesthe first prisoners to be transferred to Alcatraz in San Francisco. At Alcatraz, prisoners were allowed no contact with the outside world. Capone soon developed symptoms of mental instability. He was seed wandering around the prison in a confused state and was raving and drooling. He was diagnosed as suffering from tertiary syphilis. Capone spent the rest of his prison term in the hospital (Stockdale 44). On January 6, 1939, he was released from Alcatraz and went to a county jail. Then on NovemberRead MoreCorrections Timeline2539 Words   |  11 Pagesand were not equipped to deal with this new wave of criminals. They would often retreat or avoid any conflicts involving gangsters, who were often better armed than they were. Once captured, Alcatraz was the ideal solution to the rising problem. Before Alcatraz became one of the biggest tourist attractions and most famous landmarks of the San Francisco Bay area, it was once considered the toughest Federal prison in America. In the mid 1800’s its natural isolation, surrounded by freezing waters