People say cell 14D at Alcatraz never warms up, and that something in the dark isolation cells has never left. It is a story, not a record, and the National Park Service does not tell it.
The Legend
What Is Actually True
These stories are told by FoundSF, KQED, SFGATE and 7×7, not by the National Park Service. What NPS does document: the cellhouse was built between 1910 and 1912, while Alcatraz was still a military prison, and D-Block held the most troublesome inmates in solitary confinement. It is the most visited site in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Can You Visit?
Yes. The only way onto the island is the ferry from Pier 33, run by Alcatraz City Cruises under contract with the Park Service. Book ahead.
Closure notice. When we last checked the National Park Service on 23 October 2026, its home page said Alcatraz is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026 for dock repairs. Check the NPS visit page before you book.
Still Unconfirmed
- The story itself. It is a rumor or tale people tell; we found no primary record behind it.
Related
Read the dated history in Alcatraz history.
More Legends and History
This is one of 30 stories in San Francisco Local Legends, fact-checked. For the dated record, start at the San Francisco history hub or the timeline.
Sources
- FoundSF, Alcatraz: Island of Evil Spirits, read 27 October 2026.
- National Park Service, Alcatraz Cellhouse, read 27 October 2026.
- National Park Service, Plan Your Visit to Alcatraz, read 27 October 2026.
Dates and figures are as the sources state them, read on 27 October 2026.
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Read the guide →Questions People Ask About The Ghost of Cell 14D at Alcatraz: Legend and Facts
Is cell 14D at Alcatraz really haunted?
There is no documented evidence. The stories are told by FoundSF, KQED, SFGATE and 7x7, and the National Park Service does not tell them.
Which part of Alcatraz is D-Block?
It is a block in the cellhouse that held the most troublesome inmates in solitary confinement, according to the Park Service; the isolation cells there are the “hole” in the story.
When was the Alcatraz cellhouse built?
Between 1910 and 1912, while Alcatraz was still a military prison, according to the National Park Service.
How do you get to Alcatraz?
Only by the ferry from Pier 33, run by Alcatraz City Cruises under contract with the Park Service. Book ahead.
Is Alcatraz open right now?
The Park Service page we read on 23 October 2026 announced a closure from 26 October to 18 November 2026; check it before you plan.
More to Explore
Happening Soon
- Treasures of the Pharaohs Sat, Aug 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · de Young Museum
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Sat, Sep 12 – Dec 31 · Ferry Building Plaza
- Heart of the City Farmers Market Sun, Sep 13 – Dec 31 · Fulton Plaza, Civic Center
- SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, through Dec 4) Thu, Oct 1 – Dec 4 · SF State Observatory, Thornton Hall
Places to Check Out
- Aquarium of the Bay Attractions
- Asian Art Museum Museums
- Balmy Alley Murals Attractions
- Berggruen Gallery Art Galleries
Cite this page: Project SF, “The Ghost of Cell 14D at Alcatraz: Legend and Facts”, projectsf.com/guides/alcatraz-cell-14d-ghost-story/ (updated ).