Alcatraz | prison, California, United States | Britannica.com prison, California, United States Alcatraz, former maximum-security prison located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay , off the coast of California. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. AdstockRF Alcatraz, originally envisioned as a naval defense fortification, was designated a residence for military offenders in 1861, and it housed a diverse collection of prisoners in its early years. These included 19 Hopi Indians from the Arizona Territory who passively resisted government attempts to assimilate them, and American soldiers fighting in the Philippine-American War who had joined the Filipino cause in 1900. In 1907 the island was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison, and the modern prison building was completed four years later. In 1933 the U.S. Army transferred control of the prison to the civilian Department of Justice, and, from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous convicts in the American penitentiary system.

Among its famous denizens were Al Capone , George (“Machine Gun”) Kelly , and Robert Stroud , the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Cell block in Alcatraz, a former prison on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. © Darren Patterson/Dreamstime.com Although Alcatraz was able to house 450 convicts in cells that measured about 10 feet by 4.5 feet (3 metres by 1.5 metres), no more than 250 prisoners ever occupied the island at one time. Escape attempts were rare, and most escapees relied on secrecy and subterfuge to reach the perceived freedom of the waters of San Francisco Bay. From May 2 to May 4, 1946, however, a half-dozen inmates participated in an escape attempt that was unprecedented in its violence. Later dubbed the “ Battle of Alcatraz,” the 48-hour incident began when prisoners overpowered their guards and obtained firearms and keys to the cell block. Frustrated by a locked door, the prisoners exchanged gunfire with the remaining guards, and order was restored only when U.S. Marines stormed the cell block under a hail of grenades and rifle fire.

Two guards and three escapees were killed, and more than a dozen guards were wounded in the firefight. A few inmates did manage to escape from the island; whether they survived the currents of the bay is unknown. One daring escape was popularized in the Clint Eastwood film Escape from Alcatraz (1979). Similar Topics Statue of Liberty Eventually the cost associated with maintaining the prison, particularly the expense of transporting fresh water to and waste away from it, resulted in the closing of the facility on March 21, 1963. From November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, the island was occupied by Native American activists, including members of the American Indian Movement , who were protesting what they saw as the U.S. government’s ongoing economic, social, and political neglect of Native Americans. In 1972 the prison and its grounds became part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Alcatraz remains one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations. Native American activists occupying Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, November 1969.

AP History and Facts About Alcatraz Prison By Erin Mahaney Once considered the prison of American prisons, the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay has been an asset to the U.S. Army, the federal prison system, jailhouse folklore, and the historic evolution of the West Coast. Despite its reputation as a cold and unforgiving penitentiary, Alcatraz is now one of the most prominent tourist magnets in San Francisco. In 1775, Spanish ‘explorer’ Juan Manuel de Ayala chartered what is now San Francisco Bay. He called the 22 acre rocky island “La Isla de los Alcatraces”, meaning “Island of the Pelicans”. With no vegetation or habitation, Alcatraz was little more than a desolate islet occupied by the occasional swarm of birds. Under English-speaking influence, the name “Alcatraces” became Alcatraz. Fort Alcatraz Alcatraz was reserved for military use under President Millard Fillmore in 1850. Meanwhile, the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains brought growth and prosperity to San Francisco. The lure of the Gold Rush demanded the protection of California as gold seekers flooded the San Francisco Bay.

continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance In response, the U.S. Army built a fortress on the rocky face of Alcatraz. They made plans to install more than 100 cannons, making Alcatraz the most heavily armed entity on the West Coast. The first functional lighthouse on the West Coast was built on Alcatraz Island as well. Once fully equipped with weaponry in 1859, the island was deemed Fort Alcatraz. Having never fired its own weapons in combat, Fort Alcatraz quickly evolved from an island of defense to an island of detention. In the early 1860s, civilians arrested for treason during the Civil War were housed on the island. With the influx of prisoners, additional living quarters were built to house 500 men. Alcatraz as a jail would continue for 100 years. Throughout history, the average population of the island hovered between 200 and 300 people, never at maximum capacity. The Rock After the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906 , inmates from nearby prisons were transferred to the infallible Alcatraz.

Over the next five years, prisoners built a new jail, designated “Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison, Alcatraz Island”. Popularly known as “The Rock”, Alcatraz served as an army disciplinary barracks until 1933. Prisoners were educated and received military and vocational training. Alcatraz of the early 20th century was a minimum security prison. Prisoners spent their days working and learning. Some were even employed as babysitters for the families of prison officers. They eventually built a baseball field and inmates fashioned their own baseball uniforms. Boxing matches among inmates known as “Alcatraz Fights” were hosted on Friday nights. Prison life played a role in the changing landscape of the island. The military transported soil to Alcatraz from nearby Angel Island, and many prisoners were trained as gardeners. They planted roses, bluegrass, poppies and lilies on the eastern side. Under the order of the U.S. Army, Alcatraz was a fairly mild institution and its accommodations were favorable. The geographic location of Alcatraz was the undoing of U.S. Army occupation. Importing food and supplies to island was much too expensive.

The Great Depression of the 1930s forced the army off the island, and the prisoners were transferred to institutes in Kansas and New Jersey . Alcatraz as Federal Penitentiary: “Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island” Alcatraz was obtained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1934. The former military detention center became America’s first maximum security civilian penitentiary. This “prison system’s prison” was specifically designed to house the most horrendous prisoners, the troublemakers that other federal prisons could not successfully detain. Its isolated location made it ideal for the exile of hardened criminals, and a strict daily routine taught inmates to follow prison rule and regulation. The Great Depression witnessed some of the most heinous criminal activity in modern American history, and Alcatraz’ severity was well suited to its time. Alcatraz was home to notorious criminals including Al “Scarface” Capone, who was convicted of tax evasion and spent five years on the island. Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, the FBI’s first “Public Enemy” was a 28 year resident of Alcatraz.

The most famous prisoner was Alaskan murderer Robert “Birdman” Stroud, who spent 17 years on Alcatraz. Over its 29 years of operation, the federal prison housed more than 1,500 convicts. Daily life in the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was harsh. Prisoners were given four rights. They included medical attention, shelter, food and clothing. Recreational activities and family visits had to be earned through hard work. Punishments for bad behavior included hard labor, wearing a 12 pound ball and chain, and lock-downs where prisoners were kept in solitary confinement, restricted to bread and water. There were a total of 14 escape attempts by over 30 prisoners. Most were caught, several were shot, and a few were swallowed by the chilling swells of the San Francisco Bay. The Closing of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary The prison on Alcatraz Island was expensive to operate, as all supplies had to be brought in by boat. The island had no source of fresh water, and almost one million gallons were shipped in each week.

Building a high security prison elsewhere was more affordable for the Federal Government, and as of 1963 “Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island” was no more. Today, the equivalent of the infamous federal prison on Alcatraz Island is a maximum security institution in Florence, Colorado. It is nicknamed “Alcatraz of the Rockies”. Tourism on Alcatraz Alcatraz Island became a national park in 1972, and was considered part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Open to the public in 1973, Alcatraz sees more than one million visitors from across the globe each year. Alcatraz is best known as a maximum security prison. Media attention and fantastic stories have exaggerated this image. The San Francisco Bay islet has been much more than this. Alcatraz as a mass of rock named for its birds, an American fort during the Gold Rush, an army barracks, and tourist attraction may be less enticing, but allude to a more dynamic existence. It is one to be embraced by San Francisco and California as a whole.

BOP: Alcatraz Alcatraz Alcatraz Origins Soldier with artillery canon atop Alcatraz island The name Alcatraz is derived from the Spanish "Alcatraces." In 1775, the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first to sail into what is now known as San Francisco Bay - his expedition mapped the bay and named one of the three islands Alcatraces. Over time, the name was Anglicized to Alcatraz. While the exact meaning is still debated, Alcatraz is usually defined as meaning "pelican" or "strange bird." In 1850, a presidential order set aside the island for possible use as a United States military reservation. The California Gold Rush, the resulting boom in the growth of San Francisco, and the need to protect San Francisco Bay led the U.S. Army to build a Citadel, or fortress, at the top of the island in the early 1850s. The Army also made plans to install more than 100 cannons on the island, making Alcatraz the most heavily fortified military site on the West Coast.

Together with Fort Point and Lime Point, Alcatraz formed a "triangle of defense" designed to protect the entrance to the bay. The island was also the site of the first operational lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States. By the late 1850s, the first military prisoners were being housed on the island. While the defensive necessity of Alcatraz diminished over time (the island never fired its guns in battle), its role as a prison would continue for more than 100 years. In 1909, the Army tore down the Citadel, leaving its basement level to serve as the foundation for a new military prison. From 1909 through 1911, the military prisoners on Alcatraz built the new prison, which was designated the Pacific Branch, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks for the U.S. Army. It was this prison building that later became famous as "The Rock." The U.S. Army used the island for more than 80 years--from 1850 until 1933, when the island was transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice for use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The Federal Government had decided to open a maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary to deal with the most incorrigible inmates in Federal prisons, and to show the law-abiding public that the Federal Government was serious about stopping the rampant crime of the 1920s and 1930s. Life at the prison Correctional officers patrol "broadway" While several well-known criminals, such as Al Capone, George "Machine-Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis (the first "Public Enemy #1"), and Arthur "Doc" Barker did time on Alcatraz, most of the prisoners incarcerated there were not well-known gangsters, but prisoners who refused to conform to the rules and regulations at other Federal institutions, who were considered violent and dangerous, or who were considered escape risks. The average population was only about 260-275 (the prison never once reached its capacity of 336 - at any given time, Alcatraz held less than 1 percent of the total Federal prison population).

Many prisoners actually considered the living conditions (for instance, always one man to a cell) at Alcatraz to be better than other Federal prisons, and several inmates actually requested a transfer to Alcatraz. But while USP Alcatraz was not the "America's Devil's Island" that books and movies often portrayed, it was designed to be a prison system's prison. If a man did not behave at another institution, he could be sent to Alcatraz, where the highly structured, monotonous daily routine was designed to teach an inmate to follow rules and regulations. At Alcatraz, a prisoner had four rights: food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. Everything else was a privilege that had to be earned. Some privileges a prisoner could earn included: working, corresponding with and having visits from family members, access to the prison library, and recreational activities such as painting and music. Once prison officials felt a man no longer posed a threat and could follow the rules (usually after an average of five years on Alcatraz), he could then be transferred back to another Federal prison to finish his sentence and be released.

Bird Man Photos of a young & old Robert Stroud taken from prison The island's most famous prisoner was probably Robert Stroud, the so-called "Birdman of Alcatraz" who spent 54 years of his life behind bars. Stroud never had any birds at Alcatraz, nor was he the grandfatherly person portrayed by Burt Lancaster in the well-known movie. In 1909, Stroud was convicted of manslaughter; while serving his prison sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary (USP), McNeil Island, Washington, he viciously attacked another inmate. This resulted in his transfer to USP Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1916, he murdered a Leavenworth guard, was convicted of first-degree murder, and received a death sentence. His mother pleaded for his life, and in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment. It was Stroud's violent behavior that earned him time in segregation. During his 30 years at Leavenworth, he developed his interest in birds and eventually wrote two books about canaries and their diseases.

Initially, prison officials allowed Stroud's bird studies because it was seen as a constructive use of his time. However, contraband items were often found hidden in the bird cages, and prison officials discovered that equipment Stroud had requested for his "scientific" studies had actually been used to construct a still for "home-brew." Stroud was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, where he spent the next 17 years (6 years in segregation in "D Block" and 11 years in the prison hospital). In 1959, he was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, where he died on November 21, 1963. Escape Attempts The 14 Escape Attempts From Alcatraz 1936 - Headstrong April 27, 1936 -- While working his job burning trash at the incinerator, Joe Bowers began climbing up and over the chain link fence at the island's edge. After refusing orders to climb back down, Bowers was shot by a correctional officer stationed in the West road guard tower, then fell about 50-100 feet to the shore below.

He died from his injuries. 1937 - Storm is Brewing December 16, 1937 -- Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe worked in the mat shop in the model industries building. Over a period of time, while working in the mat shop in the model industries building, they filed their way through the flat iron bars on a window. After climbing through the window, they made their way down to the water's edge and disappeared into San Francisco Bay. This attempt occurred during a bad storm and the Bay's currents were especially fast and strong - most people believe Roe and Cole were swept out to sea. Officially, they are listed missing and presumed dead. 1938 - Workshop attack May 23, 1938 -- While at work in the woodworking shop in the model industries building, James Limerick, Jimmy Lucas, and Rufus Franklin attacked unarmed correctional officer Royal Cline with a hammer (Cline died from his injuries). The three then climbed to the roof in an attempt to disarm the correctional officer in the roof tower. The officer, Harold Stites, shot Limerick and Franklin. Limerick died from his injuries. Lucas and Franklin received life sentences for Cline's murder.

1939 - The failed five January 13, 1939 -- Arthur "Doc" Barker, Dale Stamphill, William Martin, Henry Young, and Rufus McCain escaped from the isolation unit in the cellhouse by sawing through the flat iron cell bars and bending tool-proof bars on a window. They then made their way down to the water's edge. Correctional officers found the men at the shoreline on the west side of the island. Martin, Young, and McCain surrendered, while Barker and Stamphill were shot when they refused to surrender. Barker died from his injuries. 1941 - Using the force May 21, 1941 -- Joe Cretzer, Sam Shockley, Arnold Kyle, and Lloyd Barkdoll took several correctional officers hostage while working in the industries area. The officers, including Paul Madigan (who later became Alcatraz's third warden), were able to convince the four that they could not escape and they surrendered. 1941 - Cold as ice September 15, 1941 -- While on garbage detail, John Bayless attempted to escape. He gave up shortly after entering the cold water of San Francisco Bay.

Later, while appearing in Federal court in San Francisco, Bayless tried, again unsuccessfully, to escape from the courtroom. 1943 - Spidermen April 14, 1943 -- James Boarman, Harold Brest, Floyd Hamilton, and Fred Hunter took two officers hostage while at work in the industries area. The four climbed out a window and made their way down to the water's edge. One of the hostages was able to alert other officers to the escape and shots were fired at Boarman, Brest, and Hamilton, who were swimming away from the island. Hunter and Brest were both apprehended. Boarman was hit by gunfire and sank below the water before officers were able to reach him; his body was never recovered. Hamilton was initially presumed drowned. However, after hiding out for two days in a small shoreline cave, Hamilton made his way back up to the industries area, where he was discovered by correctional officers. 1943 - Missing Sock August 7, 1943 -- Huron "Ted" Walters disappeared from the prison laundry building. He was caught at the shoreline, before he could even attempt to enter San Francisco Bay.

1945 - Uncle Sam July 31, 1945 -- In one of the most ingenious attempts, John Giles was able to take advantage of his job working at the loading dock, where he unloaded army laundry sent to the island to be cleaned - over time, he stole an entire army uniform. Dressed in the uniform, Giles calmly walked aboard an army launch to what he thought was freedom. He was discovered missing almost immediately. Unfortunately for Giles, the launch was headed for Angel Island, not San Francisco as Giles hoped. As Giles set foot on Angel Island, he was met by correctional officers who returned him to Alcatraz. 1946 - Battle of Alcatraz May 2-4, 1946 -- During this incident, known as the "Battle of Alcatraz" and the "Alcatraz Blastout," six prisoners were able to overpower cellhouse officers and gain access to weapons and cellhouse keys, in effect taking control of the cellhouse. Their plan began to fall apart when the inmates found they did not have the key to unlock the recreation yard door. Shortly thereafter, prison officials discovered the escape attempt.

Instead of giving up, Bernard Coy, Joe Cretzer, Marvin Hubbard, Sam Shockley, Miran Thompson, and Clarence Carnes decided to fight. Eventually Shockley, Thompson, and Carnes returned to their cells, but not before the officers taken hostage were shot at point-blank range by Cretzer (encouraged by Shockley and Thompson). One officer, William Miller, died from his injuries. A second officer, Harold Stites (who stopped the third escape attempt), was shot and killed attempting to regain control of the cellhouse. About 18 officers were injured during the escape attempt. The U.S. Marines were eventually called out to assist, and on May 4, the escape attempt ended with the discovery of the bodies of Coy, Cretzer, and Hubbard. Shockley, Thompson, and Carnes stood trial for the death of the officers; Shockley and Thompson received the death penalty and were executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin in December 1948. Carnes, age 19, received a second life sentence. 1956 - Docked July 23, 1956 -- Floyd Wilson disappeared from his job at the dock.

After hiding for several hours among large rocks along the shoreline, he was discovered and surrendered. 1958 - Backstroke September 29, 1958 -- While working on the garbage detail, Aaron Burgett and Clyde Johnson overpowered a correctional officer and attempted to swim from the island. Johnson was caught in the water, but Burgett disappeared. An intensive search turned up nothing. Burgett's body was found floating in the Bay two weeks later. 1962 - Hollywood June 11, 1962 -- Made famous by Clint Eastwood in the movie Escape from Alcatraz, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin vanished from their cells and were never seen again. A fourth man, Allen West, believed by some people to have been the mastermind, was also involved; however, he was still in his cell the next morning when the escape was discovered. An investigation revealed an intricate escape plot that involved homemade drills to enlarge vent holes, false wall segments, and realistic dummy heads (complete with human hair) placed in the beds so the inmates would not be missed during nighttime counts.

The three men exited through vent holes located in the rear wall of their cell - they had enlarged the vent holes and made false vent/wall segments to conceal their work. Behind the rear wall of the cells is a utility corridor that had locked steel doors at either end. The three men climbed the utility pipes to the top of the cellblock, and gained access to the roof through an air vent (the men had previously bent the iron bars that blocked the air vent). They then climbed down a drainpipe on the northern end of the cellhouse and made their way to the water. It is believed they left from the northeast side of the island near the powerhouse/quartermaster building. They used prison-issued raincoats to make crude life vests and a pontoon-type raft to assist in their swim. A cellhouse search turned up the drills, heads, wall segments, and other tools, while the water search found two life vests (one in the bay, the other outside the Golden Gate), oars, and letters and photographs belonging to the Anglins that had been carefully wrapped to be watertight. But no sign of the men was found.

Several weeks later, a man's body dressed in blue clothing similar to the prison uniform was found a short distance up the coast from San Francisco, but the body was too badly deteriorated to be identified. Morris and the Anglins are officially listed as missing and presumed drowned. 1962 - A dish best served cold December 16, 1962 -- John Paul Scott and Darl Parker bent the bars of a kitchen window in the cellhouse basement, climbed out, and made their way down to the water. Parker was discovered on a small outcropping of rock a short distance from the island. Scott attempted to swim towards San Francisco, but the currents began pulling him out to sea. He was found by several teenagers on the rocks near Fort Point (beneath the Golden Gate Bridge) and was taken to the military hospital at the Presidio Army base suffering from shock and hypothermia, before being returned to Alcatraz. Over the 29 years (1934-1963) that the Federal prison operated, 36 men (including two who tried to escape twice) were involved in 14 separate escape attempts.

Of these, 23 were caught, 6 were shot and killed during their escape, and 2 drowned. Two of the men who were caught were later executed in the gas chamber at the California State Prison at San Quentin for their role in the death of a correctional officer during the famous May 2-4, 1946, "Battle of Alcatraz" escape attempt. Whether or not anyone succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz depends on the definition of "successful escape." Is it getting out of the cellhouse, reaching the water, making it to land, or reaching land and not getting caught? Officially, no one ever succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners listed as "missing and presumed drowned." One of the many myths about Alcatraz is that it was impossible to survive a swim from the island to the mainland because of sharks. In fact, there are no "man-eating" sharks in San Francisco Bay, only small bottom-feeding sharks. The main obstacles were the cold temperature (averaging 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit), the strong currents, and the distance to shore (at least 1-1/4 miles).

Prior to the Federal institution opening in 1934, a teenage girl swam to the island to prove it was possible. Fitness guru Jack LaLanne once swam to the island pulling a rowboat, and several years ago, two 10-year-old children also made the swim. If a person is well-trained and -conditioned, it is possible to survive the cold waters and fast currents. However, for prisoners - who had no control over their diet, no weightlifting or physical training (other than situps and pushups), and no knowledge of high and low tides - the odds for success were slim. Prison Closure A building burns during the Native American occupation On March 21, 1963, USP Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation. It did not close because of the disappearance of Morris and the Anglins (the decision to close the prison was made long before the three disappeared), but because the institution was too expensive to continue operating. An estimated $3-5 million was needed just for restoration and maintenance work to keep the prison open.

That figure did not include daily operating costs - Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other Federal prison (in 1959 the daily per capita cost at Alcatraz was $10.10 compared with $3.00 at USP Atlanta). The major expense was caused by the physical isolation of the island - the exact reason islands have been used as prisons throughout history. This isolation meant that everything (food, supplies, water, fuel...) had to be brought to Alcatraz by boat. For example, the island had no source of fresh water, so nearly one million gallons of water had to be barged to the island each week. The Federal Government found that it was more cost-effective to build a new institution than to keep Alcatraz open. After the prison closed, Alcatraz was basically abandoned. Many ideas were proposed for the island, including a monument to the United Nations, a West Coast version of the Statue of Liberty, and a shopping center/hotel complex. In 1969, the island again made news when a group of Native American Indians claimed Alcatraz as Indian land with the hope of creating a Native American cultural center and education complex on the island.

The "Indians of All Tribes" used their act of civil disobedience to illustrate the troubles faced by Native Americans. Initially, public support for the Native Americans' cause was strong, and thousands of people (general public, schoolchildren, celebrities, hippies, Vietnam war protesters, Hells Angels...) came to the island over the next 18 months. Unfortunately, the small Native American leadership group could not control the situation and much damage occurred (graffiti, vandalism, and a fire that destroyed the lighthouse keeper's home, the Warden's home, and the Officers' Club). In June 1971, Federal Marshals removed the remaining Native Americans from the island. Alcatraz Today A view of Alcatraz Island today In 1972, Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Alcatraz Island was included as part of the new National Park Service unit. The island opened to the public in the fall of 1973 and has become one of the most popular Park Service sites - more than one million visitors from around the world visit the island each year.

Alcatraz Prison | Alcatraz Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The island was discovered by the Spanish explorer and naval officer Juan de Ayala, who named is "La Isla de los Alcatraces," translated to "The Island of the Pelicans." 1934 In August 1934, the Alcatraz Island became a Federal Bureau of Prisons federal prison, after being acquired by the United States Department of Justice in 1933. 1963 Edit On the evening of March 20, 1963, police officers Hauser and Paul arrived at Alcatraz as part of a prisoners transfer. They discovered all of the facilities on the island to be abandoned, including the main cell block. All 302 inmates and guards disappeared, and the prison was closed the next day. The official cover story indicated that due to the high operating costs and the condition of the facilities, Alcatraz was shut down, on the order of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. 2012 Edit The prison became a popular attraction for historians and tourists.

Hauser, who has since became a government agent, built a research lab underneath the prison, which served as the headquarters for his task force . Along with former psychiatrist Lucy Banerjee and former doctor Beauregard , Hauser rebuilt the main cell block in an underground location within the redwoods in San Francisco. As the vanished inmates and guards started reappearing in late 2011 and early 2012, Hauser began tracking them down and re-incarcerating them in the new facility . Facilities Edit The guards and their families lived at the barracks. After the Disappearance in 1963, all of the inmates ' private belongings and personal files were stored in boxes at the barracks. (" Pilot ") During his research of Alcatraz, Diego Soto came scrolled a locked room that contained all the boxes, but could not access it. In 2012, Soto and Rebecca Madsen broke into the room in search of information on Jack Sylvane . The two were gassed by Emerson Hauser , whose underground base was located close by. (" Pilot ") Infirmary Edit Sick and injured inmates were sent to the infirmary, which was overlooked by the lead doctor, Beauregard .

Both Tommy Madsen and Jack Sylvane had blood transfusions conducted by the infirmary staff for unknown reason. Sylvane had his taken while he was asleep, while Madsen was constantly giving blood, due to his bad relationship with Beauregard. (" Pilot ") (" Cal Sweeney ") Smoking was permitted, as Beauregard constantly smoked, and even offered some to Kit Nelson . (" Kit Nelson ") Mentally-ill patients were also sent to the infirmary. Ernest Cobb was strapped to a bed following him sharing a cell with Yapper , and was visited by a psychiatrist, Lucille Sengupta . (" Ernest Cobb ") Laundry room Edit The main cell house contained the inmates ' cells. Each cell was 5-by-9 feet, and included a toilet, a sink, and a sleeping cot. A tag on each cell included the inmate's personal number. Regular routines would include lining up for visiting hours and morning counting by the guards. Punishment for disobedience during any of the routines was solitary confinement. Mess hall Edit The tear gas cans in action. The mess hall was also known as "the Gas Chamber," due to the 13 tear gas cans attached to the ceiling.

As described by Guy Hastings , the mess hall was the most dangerous room in the most dangerous prison in the world, due to the freedom of movement given to the prisoners. A fight between the white and black inmates due to Clarence Montgomery being a chef in the kitchens resulted in the guards evacuating and detonating the tear gas cans. Recreation yard Edit Inmates, constantly under the supervision of guards, were allowed to spend time at the recreation yard. Activities included gathering in groups, smoking, or beating a fellow inmate. While usually such a behavior would not be accepted, the guards looked the other way when Kit Nelson, known as a child killer, was routinely attacked. (" Kit Nelson ") Solitary Edit Family members would visit the inmates during the visiting hours. The visitors and inmates were separated by a glass, and communicated via a phone. A list of visitors had to be approved by both inmates and wardens, though when Mr. Nelson , who was not on the visitors' list, desired to visit his son, Warden James allowed it. (" Pilot ") (" Kit Nelson ") Jack Sylvane was not given a visit by his wife when Warden Tiller planted a screwdriver in his cell.

A month later, during another visit, Sonya asked Sylvane for a divorce, as she was going to marry his brother. Sylvane angrily tossed his chair and was dragged away to solitary for his behavior. (" Pilot ") Warden's residence Alcatraz Tickets & Tours - Visit San Francisco's Famous Prison Duration: Approximately 2 1/2 hours plus 1 hour Bay Cruise Cruise on San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island and the infamous and notorious former federal prison - home to the likes of Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelley, and Robert "The Birdman" Stroud. Tour the Island and the prison. Includes audio Cell Block Tour. And take a 1 hour cruise on San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge. Please note that the ferry to Alcatraz and the cruise of the San Francisco Bay are on two separate vessels. These vessels depart from two different piers in San Francisco.

From: $75.45 US Dollars San Francisco Alcatraz and Yosemite Combo Tour San Francisco Alcatraz and Yosemite Combo Tour San Francisco Alcatraz and Yosemite Combo Tour Product ID: 53521 English Pick-up service For the Yosemite tour the following day, a pick-up is available from most San Francisco hotels. Your exact pick-up time and location will be provided after booking confirmation. Select date and participants: Drive through the Great Central Valley Enjoy a fully guided tour of Yosemite Valley by coach Take advantage of the photo opportunities from Inspiration Point View the breathtaking Bridalveil Fall See Yosemite Falls, North America's tallest waterfall Enjoy a narrated cruise to Alcatraz Get spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline Marvel at the majestic El Capitan rock formation Overview Explore Alcatraz Island on a tour of the notorious former federal prison. Then, escape the crowds and spend the next day in the stunning wilderness of Yosemite Park. Drive through fruit orchards and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. What to Expect Discover the notorious former federal prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay and enjoy the award winning audio tour. Then, spend the next day in the glorious surroundings of Yosemite Park.

First, enjoy a narrated boat tour around Alcatraz Island before docking. Then, take the guided “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour” from the dock to the main prison building. If you chose the option to take the night tour of Alcatraz see special programs and presentations that are only available at night. Watch the sunset, and enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. The next day, escape the crowds of the city center, and drive to Yosemite National Park. Head east across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and enjoy great views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Drive through Central Valley, stopping at a fruit stand to try some local produce. Pass fruit orchards and nut farms, before entering the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Continue into the mountains to California’s gold rush town of Groveland. Once inside Yosemite National Park, take a 1.5-hour narrated tour of the glaciated valley in c coach. See waterfalls and rock formations, including Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest waterfall.

Continue past El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and Sentinel Dome, pausing at great vantage points, such as Inspiration Point, for panoramic views. Stop for the afternoon near the base of Yosemite Falls. If you have not already picked up picnic supplies, there are many options for getting lunch in the park. You will have 3-4 hours of free time to explore the valley as you choose. Walk to the base of Yosemite Falls, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, stop in at the Ahwahnee Hotel, or rent a cruiser bike. Alternatively, hike some of the trails that originate from the valley. Your tour includes entrance to The Aquarium of the Bay and a custom reusable tote bag.

What's Included Ticket for the Alcatraz night or day tour (depending on option chosen) Hotel pick-up and drop off for the Yosemite tour Yosemite entrance fee Entrance to The Aquarium of the Bay Reusable tote bag Transportation to and from the Alcatraz Cruise Food and drinks Alcatraz Island | island, California, United States | Britannica.com Alcatraz Island Alternative Titles: Isla de Alcatraces, The Rock Related Topics Alcatraz Island, byname The Rock, rocky island in San Francisco Bay , California , U.S. The island occupies an area of 22 acres (9 hectares) and is located 1.5 miles (2 km) offshore. Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, California. © Fabio Formaggio/Dreamstime.com Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, California. © MedioImages/Getty Images Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, California. © Ron Gatepain (A Britannica Publishing Partner) The island had little vegetation and was a seabird habitat when it was explored in 1775 by Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala, who named it Isla de los Alcatraces (“Isle of the Pelicans”).

Sold in 1849 to the U.S. government, Alcatraz was the site of the first lighthouse (1854) on the coast of California. Thereafter other buildings were erected on the island, and the first permanent army detachment was garrisoned there in 1859. In 1861 the island was designated a residence for military offenders. Later prisoners included some 19 Hopi Indians from the Arizona Territory who passively resisted government attempts to assimilate them and American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had joined the Filipino cause in 1900. In 1907 the island was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. AdstockRF From 1934 to 1963 it served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous civilian prisoners.

Among its famous denizens were Al Capone , George (“Machine Gun”) Kelly, and Robert Stroud , the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Although the Alcatraz penitentiary was able to house 450 convicts in cells that measured about 10 by 4.5 feet (3 by 1.5 metres), no more than 250 prisoners ever occupied the island at one time. Escape attempts were rare, but a few inmates did escape from the island; whether they survived the currents of the bay is unknown. One daring escape was popularized in the film Escape from Alcatraz (1979). Eventually the necessity of transporting fresh water to and waste away from the island resulted in its abandonment in 1963. Cell block in Alcatraz, a former prison on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California.

© Darren Patterson/Dreamstime.com Famous Movie Locations: Alcatraz Island From 'The Rock' (San Francisco Bay, CA) | Moviefone Famous Movie Locations: Alcatraz Island From 'The Rock' (San Francisco Bay, CA) by Jason Guerrasio For 29 years Alcatraz Island, also known as "The Rock," was one of the most intimidating prisons in the U.S. A 22-acre island a mile and a half from San Francisco, it housed some of the most notorious criminals -- from Al Capone to George "Machine Gun" Kelly -- and was inescapable. Because of this notoriety, Alcatraz has not only been one of the most popular sites to visit while in San Francisco -- it became a historic landmark in 1986 -- but has also attracted Hollywood studios for decades. However, no film has so creatively included this landmark in its story as Michael Bay did in his1996 blockbuster 'The Rock.' Alcatraz Island (U.S.

National Park Service) Contact Us Explore the Mysteries of Alcatraz Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US built fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the history making 18 month occupation by Indians of All Tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock—gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.

Question: What former prison, located in San Francisco Bay, is called "The Rock"?
Answer: Alcatraz