SLAM!!! went the doors. Ranger John had just demonstrated the sound of an entire cell block opening and closing to us. The scouts were in awe as he showed us around Alcatraz after hours.

How did we get so lucky? Troop 299 was picked in a National Park Service lottery to spend a night on Alcatraz. We went up Saturday April 17th, did a service project, spent the night in cell block D, then returned home on Sunday the 18th.

This is our repository for memories of the trip. The pictures below were taken with a digital camera. I've attached a description nearby. As film gets developed and people send me their favorite memories, we'll add those memories here as well. For more info on Alcatraz, I suggest you go the National Park Service page.

A lone seagull looks over the east side of the island at the ferry which will take the last tour back to San Francisco and a catamarran out for a late afternoon cruise.

The late afternoon sunlight streams in through the windows as the scouts work away on requirements in the kitchen area as they await dinner. Although we usually use the patrol method, we found it simpler to just cook and eat as one large unit.

As the sun sets on a great day, another lone seagull watches out from atop its perch on a lamp post near the old water tower and the watch tower that overlooks the recreation yard.

The view of the Golden Gate bridge and the Marin Headlands as the sun sets. This picture was taken from the walkway in from of the lighthouse.

Another lone seagull watches as the early morning fog rolls in over the bay. This picture was taken from the walkway in front of the administration building looking towards the city of San Francisco.

The remains of the lighthouse keepers living quarters in front of the administration building and at the base of the lighthouse is bathed in the warm glow of the Sunday morning sunrise. The Golden Gate bridge is shrouded in fog off in the background.

An Assistant Scoutmaster considers life in the small cells along Michigan Ave. His peers considered locking the door on this 'egghead' and throwing away the key.

The early morning fog has rolled in over the bay. The Bay Bridge sits off in the distance connecting the city of San Francisco to Treasure Island and the east bay.

Sunrise on Sunday. I think it speaks for itself. I just felt so lucky to be there to enjoy it. Thanks for waking me up.....

We noticed the flagpole didn't have the regular hardware. So started a conversation with Ranger John that led to us helping him change the flag on Sunday morning before we left. The trick is that you have to take down the flagpole to change the flag. This picture shows the flag and pole being put back into place.

The view here is southwest with the Presidio off in the distance.

All good things must come to an end. We're the ones on the ferry Sunday morning back to Pier 41 in San Francisco. Here we are under way and pulling away from the island.

A great big Troop 299 Thank You goes out to Ranger Jim and Ranger John who took great care of us during our stay on the island.

Check out our different pages and let us know what you think. If you have suggestions, comments, compliments, or a complaint: E-Mail us at troop299@agentz.com.