Gps Coordinates  /  37.8269874,-122.4233025

Alcatraz Dining Hall Cafeteria 2015 VR Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island, GGNRA, Fort Mason, B201, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States

Known as Time Square as it passes beneath a large clock approaching the entrance way to the dining hall.

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The dining hall in Alcatraz has appeared as a scene in numerous films, television programs and novels, often where criminals hatch plots to escape or crimes to commit upon escaping.

The food served at Alcatraz was reportedly the best in the United States prison system.

Link Location Gps -122.4230973

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8268291,-122.4230973

 The first warden, James A. Johnston, always entered the dining hall alone and unarmed, due to heavy guarding around him.

This wing includes the dining hall and the kitchen beyond it.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4233673  /  Gps Link -122.4233117  /  Gps Link -122.4233018

Gps Coordinates  /  37.826957,-122.4233673  /  37.8269343,-122.4233117  /  37.8269272,-122.4233018

Dining hall protocol was a scripted process, including a whistle system to indicate which block and tier of men would move into and out of the hall at any given time, who sat where, where to place hands, and when to start eating.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.423313  /  Gps Link -122.4232632  /  Gps Link -122.4232779

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8269022,-122.423313  /  37.8268979,-122.4232632  /  37.8268695,-122.4232779

Each dining table had benches which held up to six men, although smaller tables and chairs later replaced these which seated four.

Prisoners would be awakened at 6:30, and sent to breakfast at 6:55. 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4232385  /  Gps Link -122.4232461  /  Gps Link -122.4232109

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8268718,-122.4232385  /  37.8268422,-122.4232461  /  37.8268154,-122.4232109

The dining hall had tear-gas canisters attached to the rafters of the ceiling which could be activated by remote control, should prisoners riot or attempt to escape.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4231901  /  Gps Link -122.4231379  /  Gps Link -122.4231208

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8268267,-122.4231901  /  37.8268428,-122.4231379  /  37.8268929,-122.4231208

Those prisoners who were not involved in the fighting hid under the dining hall tables to escape possible retribution.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4231659  /  Gps Link -122.4232463  /  Gps Link -122.4232953

Gps Coordinates  /  37.826968,-122.4231659  /  37.827032,-122.4232463  /  37.8269452,-122.4232953

The original daily menu, established in 1934, included oatmeal, milk, fried bologna sausage, cottage fried potatoes, toast, oleomargarine, and coffee for breakfast.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4232661  /  Gps Link -122.4232416  /  Gps Link -122.4232374

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8269381,-122.4232661  /  37.8269458,-122.4232416  /  37.8269178,-122.4232374

A breakfast menu is still preserved on the hallway board, dated 21 March 1963.

There was a metal detector outside of the hall for security purposes.

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link -122.4231901  /  Gps Link -122.423194

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8269021,-122.4231901  /  37.8268821,-122.423194

The gun gallery was situated in the Recreation Yard and mounted on one of the dining hall's exterior walls. 

Link Location Gps -122.4231019

Gps Coordinates  /  37.8269162,-122.4231019

On the second floor was an auditorium, which was where movies were screened for the inmates at weekends.

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At the end of each 20 minute meal, the forks, spoons and knives were laid out on the table and carefully counted to ensure that nothing had been taken as a potential weapon.

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We left some touring brochures below let us know how you got along.

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Freetoursbyfoot.com/alcatraz-tours/

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Alcatrazislandtickets.com/Alcatraz-Island-Tours/

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Thetourguy.com/travel-blog/usa/san-francisco/alcatraz/how-to-visit-alcatraz-island/

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Alcatraztoursf.com/san-francisco/city-tour