Alcatraz Island NPS Series

Retired Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary guard, George DeVincenzi served on “The Rock” from 1950 to 1958, departing just five years before the infamous island prison closed forever in 1963. Correspondent, Tom Wilmer met with DeVincenzi in the old prison hospital, directly across the corridor from where DeVincenzi long ago played checkers with the infamous Bird Man of Alcatraz. Listen to George DeVincenzi, as he recalls his life on The Rock on the NPR.ORG podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer produced by KCBX.

Of the many members of the clergy who saw duty on the Rock, the only living, former clergyman is Father Bernard Bush S.J. It was curiosity about the mysterious island penitentiary in the middle of San Francisco Bay that first attracted Father Bush’s attention. The young seminarian decided to volunteer his services on Alcatraz in 1958. Listen to Father Bush as he vividly shares his recollections from his four years on the Rock on the NPR.ORG podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer produced by KCBX.

Even though Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary has been closed since 1963, the myth, legend, and lore of the infamous Rock that housed prisoners such as Al “Scarface” Capone, the “Birdman of Alcatraz”, and “Machine Gun” Kelly has grown exponentially over the past half century. Today, it is a must do destination for tourists from around the world–so much so that the Rock recently received TripAdvisor's 2015 Travelers’ Choice Award as the Number One U.S. Landmark, and number eight in the world. National Park Service Public Affairs Officer, Alexandra Picavet shares insights about experiencing Alcatraz Island on the NPR.ORG podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer produced by KCBX.

Chris Lehnertz, the National Park Service Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area that includes Alcatraz and 80,000 acres of ecologically and historically significant destinations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Listen to Chris Lehnertz on the NPR.ORG Podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer produced by KCBX.