The Recreation Yard at Alcatraz Island was one of the few places where inmates could experience a brief sense of freedom within the prison’s harsh confines. This open-air space, surrounded by towering concrete walls and barbed wire, offered prisoners the chance to engage in outdoor activities like baseball, handball, and chess. For many inmates, recreation time was a rare opportunity to socialize, exercise, and momentarily escape the monotony of prison life. From the yard, prisoners had a clear view of the San Francisco skyline—a constant reminder of the world they were isolated from, yet so tantalizingly close. Despite the strict supervision and heavy security, the yard provided a small sense of normalcy and humanity for those incarcerated. Today, visitors can walk the same grounds, imagine the sounds of inmates’ conversations, and reflect on how this seemingly ordinary space once served as a psychological lifeline for those living in isolation.