The National Park Service assumed responsibility for managing Alcatraz Island in 1972 when it was added to the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Its continuing policy of protecting the natural environment and preserving historic buildings and gardens promotes a balanced island ecosystem, a refuge for animals, plants and people. When Alcatraz became a National Park, marine and avian life that had declined during the fortress and prison eras quickly reemerged. The Rock hosts tranquil tide pools and colonies of roosting birds, including black-crowned night herons and Western gulls, which use building rubble, concrete, and thickets of exotic plants for nests. Alcatraz is one of many destinations in the Golden Gate National Park, with nine other National Park areas nearby, each offering a unique experience that deepens understanding of the country’s natural and cultural legacy through settings such as old-growth redwood forest, remnants of past wars, coastal waterfall, and the residence of a world-famous American playwright. Visitors can also volunteer in various ways with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
