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Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island, more commonly known as Alcatraz or The Rock, is a small island located three miles (5 km) east of the Golden Gate. Its location made it ideal for the construction of a large prison, which operated until 1963. Now the island is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can board a ferry from Pier 33 near Fisherman's Wharf to tour the island as well as the prison.
History
- In 1859, the US army established a fort on the island which guarded the bay.
- In 1907, Alcatraz was converted into a military prison.
- From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz served as a maximum-security Federal Penitentiary
- In 1969, the island was seized by members of the Native American Movement.
- In 1971, the Native Americans were expelled from the island, which became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- In 1986, Alcatraz was listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Famous Inmates
- Al Capone: Arrested for income tax evasion in 1934, he served a five-year sentence and left the island mentally unstable.
- Robert Stroud: Known as the original "Birdman of Alcatraz", he spent most of his 17-year sentence in solitary confinement.
- Carnes, Thompson, and Shockley: In May 1946, these three led a prison revolt, overpowering guards and capturing their guns. They failed to break out, but killed two officers in what became known as the "Battle of Alcatraz". For their parts, Carnes was given an additional life sentence and Thompson and Shockley were executed at San Quentin.
- Anglin Brothers: John and Clarence Anglin, together with Frank Morris, chipped through the walls of their cells and hid the holes with cardboard grates. They then left dummy heads in their beds, made a raft to escape and were never caught. Their story was dramatized in the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood as Morris.
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