Spread over 22 acres of land, the infamous Alcatraz Island is filled with frightening stories and incredible legends. The rocky shore in San Francisco Bay has been a haven for seabirds for millennia, but has become notorious for its captives. Called "Devil's Island" by Native Americans, Alcatraz has long been associated with violence and supernatural forces. On the island there was a military fortress, a prison with inhabitants who had committed “grave and irredeemable” crimes. Alcatraz survived years of abandonment in the company of ghosts, and was a movie set. To get a closer look at the rocky island, we'll take a seat on the ferry at pier 33 in San Francisco Bay.

A mile and a quarter from the San Francisco coastline are the Alcatraz cliffs, which occupied the first line of defense of the bay during the Gold Rush. Defense troops and artillery in the 1850s were ready to repel the attack.

The first myth is probably about Fort Alcatraz's ability to repel an attack. The island's artillery was not able to conduct direct aimed fire.

On July 1876, a mock battle was fought. A barge filled with explosives entered the bay, and the artillery was preparing to destroy the imaginary aggressor with the fire of its guns.

Things didn't work out. Alcatraz's guns did not reach their intended target. Then the young officer, under the cover of a smoke screen, set fire to the ship of an imaginary enemy, preventing him from filling the bay with explosives, thereby ensuring the safety of the peaceful life of the bay.

In the end, Alcatraz's cannons were dismantled without firing a single shot at the enemy.

Alcatraz prison has the most unfading glory.

In 1934, the island became the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, for the most criminals. The island is washed by the cold water of San Francisco Bay, making escape from Alcatraz almost impossible, and this is the next myth.

They escaped from Alcatraz, but never returned. Did those who escaped survive? Nobody knows, but there are plenty of theories, which provides ample ground for all sorts of interpretations.

Compared to the myths, Alcatraz's statistics are not impressive. Its 366 cells were never fully occupied. There were, on average, 260 prisoners, not a single woman among them. During its 29 years of service as a federal prison, no more than 1,600 convicts passed through Alcatraz.

Escape from Alcatraz

The most famous escape from Alcatraz by a trio of brave men who exploited all the weaknesses of the fortress took place in June 1962. After 29 years of existence, the prison fell into disrepair under the leadership of drunkard Olin G, known as "Gypsy Blackwell." The lack of funding affected everything.

On the night of the escape, Frank Morris and his brothers John and Clarence Anglin managed to escape from their cells and climb to the roof. From there to the shore of the island, where we used a homemade raft from scrap materials.

Where and how did they get life jackets, raft parts and even doll heads to fool the guards when going around the cells?

They widened the ventilation hole and entered the corridor behind the cell. Then they were able to climb through the pipes to the top of block C. Then, through the ventilation duct, they climbed onto the roof and, there it was, the starry sky overhead!

An accomplice of the fugitives, Allen West, received permission from security to cover a huge area of ​​the roof with blankets, supposedly to protect against dust and paint during repairs.

Thus, in the “most guarded” prison, “completely excluding the possibility of escape,” a secret plan worked, deceiving the Alcatraz guards. They only had to look into the storage room above Block C to find floating objects, fasteners, glue and even a homemade periscope.

But that did not happen. And for months, with great care, the fugitives were able to build a raft.

Under the cover of other prisoners, the escape took place in 1962. The administration of the penal system managed to hide the incident from the public for a long time. The escape became known only in 1990, when classified FBI materials were disclosed.

The terrifying image of Alcatraz, guarded by impassive guards, turned out to be a myth. At least in the last years of the prison's existence. Be that as it may, the legendary place of serving sentences was closed a year after the escape of three friends.

They were actively searching for the fugitives, combing the shores. There are many cases where the distance from the island to the shores of the bay was overcome by swimming, but our heroes were probably carried out by the current into the Pacific Ocean. All that was found later were fragments of the raft, oars and personal photographs.

No body was found, although a Norwegian ship reported a drowned man floating face down, similar in description and location to one of the escapees.

The FBI transferred the case to the US Department of Corrections on December 31, 1979, which cannot be closed until each of the fugitives turns 100 years old, or they or their bodies are discovered. The term expires in 2026, 2030 and 2031.

Reports of people similar to the Alcatraz escapees come from all over the world, but have never been confirmed. Some claim that the three anti-heroes have settled in South America. Skeptics insist that they could not overcome the current at night from the San Francisco Bay and died long ago. A minority believes that the fugitives managed to get lost and hide outside the prison.

The case manager for the fugitives, Michael Dyke, has half a dozen more like them on his hands. Each year he focuses on the 1962 Alcatraz escapees. But after 52 years, very little or nothing of the observations, rumors, theories has surfaced.

Bottom line: Nobody Knows what happened to the fugitives.

By the way, what about sharks? Ruthless cannibals filling the waters of the bay? Myth. Sand sharks predominate and do not prey on humans.

Bird lover.

Alcatraz was home to hundreds of bad guys, including Al Capone, "Machine Gun Georges," Kelly, and Robert Stroud, known as the Alcatraz "Bird Lover."

The story of the “bird lover” gave rise to another type of myth about Alcatraz, according to which the criminals who ended up here became kind and inquisitive. This idyllic story came to the silver screen in 1962, starring Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud.

Stroud collected unique observations and studies of birds that were published posthumously. The public also saw two more of his books, an autobiography and a description of the US prison system.

Stroud was as complicated as birds talk. An impulsive killer and violent psychopath, whose temper subsided only with age. Entering the prison system as a 19-year-old, he never left, spending 42 of his 52 years behind bars in solitary confinement.

Being a “bird lover,” Stroud conducted all his research at Fort Leavenworth, and not at Alcatraz, according to legend. Alcatraz is home to countless birds, but Stroud was not allowed to make observations here.

The film also portrays Stroud as the man who stopped the armed riot. This did not happen. The prisoners who got out of control and took possession of weapons were killed with weapons in their hands.

Ghosts of Alcatraz.

Considering the number of souls that passed through these stone vaults, the walls must have been saturated with despair and hatred. This makes it possible for ghosts to appear and stories about them. Numerous photographs of the rocks of Alcatraz did not capture a single lost soul.

According to one legend, since the Civil War, a mustachioed soldier in an officer’s jacket has been wandering along the shores of Alcatraz. The remaining ghosts take a wide variety of forms, appearing as shadows, mists, cold spots, little girls, a pink face, and even a yellow cat.

They are quite noisy, whining, crying and begging for help. They manipulate objects by clinking chains, shooting, and even playing the accordion.

Al Capone was heard playing the banjo, as he had done earlier in the bathroom.

Invisible shadows follow you, sometimes touching you, sometimes pouring cold on you, causing a feeling of fear.

The greatest activity of ghosts is in the three-story block D, known as the “correctional block.” Six isolated cells contained the instigators of the disorder. The greatest ghost activity was reported in cell 14D, the so-called “strip cell” where prisoners were thrown without clothes.

Cell 14D is behind double doors, dark, damp and unsettling. Surely the most undesirable place to spend time in the company of ghosts.

None of the stories sincerely told by guards, prisoners, visitors, or parapsychologists has yet been confirmed. No feeling of fear can be assessed or recorded. No one can describe with confidence and detail their experiences when it comes to the paranormal. If stories do not have confirmation, then they are unconfirmed.

Are there ghosts in Alcatraz? There is no evidence yet, but there are a lot of exciting myths. No one will doubt that Alcatraz has a terrifying appearance.

Alcatraz today.

There is much more to Alcatraz than mystery and fear. The nature of the island, the cultural occupation by Native Americans from 1969 to 1971, and many colorful personalities associated with this place.

These days, Alcatraz is one of the stops on the way to the mysterious. The island is very popular with tourists and is part of the US Park Service. Instead of ghosts, you will be met at the pier by rosy-cheeked rangers who will introduce you to the attraction. Instead of taciturn guards and prisoners plotting their escape, the corridors of the fortress are filled with curious tourists. Where can you hear the clanging of metal? This is a busy cash register in a souvenir shop where you can buy anything from a trinket to a prison uniform with a number. Even the dull area of ​​the yard now has a green lawn, and the entire area has been transformed thanks to landscape design.

Translation by Vladimir Maksimenko 2013-2014

Alcatraz (USA) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

  • Tours for May Worldwide
  • Last minute tours Worldwide

Previous photo Next photo

The most famous prison in the United States and, perhaps, the whole world, Alcatraz is not only a correctional facility (by the way, it has been functioning only as a museum for more than 30 years), but also a small picturesque island 15 minutes away from the San Francisco pier . Motor ships briskly ply between the “mainland” and the island, regularly delivering numerous tourists to the prison-museum. There really is something to see here: for almost a hundred years, Alcatraz was synonymous with hell for those prisoners who were unlucky enough to serve their sentences here. Cramped “solitaries”, gloomy punishment cells and narrow barred passages - after seeing all this, you begin to appreciate freedom in the best possible way.

A little history

The history of Alcatraz began at the end of the 18th century, when the island was discovered by a Spanish navigator and named it Pelicanium (this is how “Alcatraz” is translated from Spanish). A century later, during the Gold Rush, a lighthouse appeared here, and a little later, construction began on a fort to protect gold-bearing territories, which was later equipped with 110 long-range guns. The gold dried up, and the fort was no longer needed - so at the beginning of the 20th century, the first prison appeared here, first for prisoners of war, and then for especially dangerous federal criminals. In the entire history of Alcatraz, not a single successful escape has been made from here - the perfect security system and natural isolation by the stormy waters of San Francisco Bay left no chance for the fugitives. The most famous prisoner of Alcatraz is the legendary Al Capone, who spent seven years in prison.

What to see

Alcatraz Prison Tours are one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. Motorboats with tourists regularly depart from Pier No. 33 to the island; at least 15 departures per day every half hour. It is possible to visit Alcatraz at night, as well as combine a trip with nearby Angel Island.

Acquaintance with Alcatraz begins at its pier: a steep climb leads to the fort-prison, and around it there are picturesque gardens full of flowering plants. From the war period of history, Alcatraz inherited impressively sized cannons, as well as a considerable number of museum exhibits - binoculars, military uniforms, household items for the inhabitants of the fort, etc. When visiting the prison premises, you will see blocks of cells where prisoners were kept, isolation wards and punishment cells, kitchen, dining room and hall for Sunday masses, as well as an extensive courtyard. In the Alcatraz Museum you can see original keys with the letter “A”, whistles and weapons of guards, handcuffs and shackles, photographs, daily routines, art objects of prisoners and materials on failed escapes, for example, fake heads made by prisoners from soap, wire and hair, which they intended to put on the bunks to hide the fact of their absence.

The most famous prisoner of Alcatraz is the legendary Al Capone, who spent seven years in prison.

Information for visitors

Ticket price is 39.90 USD for adults and 24.40 USD for children. The journey to Alcatraz takes about 15 minutes; you should set aside 2-2.5 hours to explore the prison. You can return to San Francisco at any time of the return motorboat departure until 18:30.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

The most terrible, mysterious and most celebrated prison in the world, even 40 years after the last prisoner left its territory, continues to attract attention and crowds of tourists.

Alcatraz Correctional Facility, located on the island of the same name in San Francisco Bay, is as much a part of American history as the Boston Tea Party and the Vietnam Campaign. The harsh and mysterious prison is a cultural phenomenon, reflected in literature, cinema, music and even sports.

On the twentieth of September, Alcatraz opens its doors to prisoners again. This time there are no formidable gangsters, bloodthirsty maniacs and inveterate hooligans, only political prisoners persecuted for their ideas and the principles they defend. Nelson Mandela, Edward Snowden and other “prisoners of conscience” will find themselves on a dark island. But only as portraits assembled from LEGO and only as part of a cultural project by the disgraced Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

The legendary majestic gloomy building on a lonely island neighbors the “disco city” and is its complete antipode. The editors of FURFUR tried to find out how Alcatraz still remains prison number 1 and why it has such a rich cultural trail behind it.

Story
Alcatraz got its Spanish name by mistake of a cartographer who accidentally named the site of the famous prison after another island. Until 1861, lighthouses stood on Alcatraz, signaling ships when they were approaching the rocky shores, but in the sixties of the 19th century, they decided to hold prisoners of war from the fields of the Civil War here. In the new century, when prisoners were replaced by prisoners, there were already more than half a thousand criminals on the island. It was necessary to build a large prison, and the state authorities erected a three-story building. The institution for thieves and murderers immediately acquired the status of a prison with harsh conditions, although compared to the 1940s and 1950s this place can be considered quite comfortable for prisoners. It got to the point that in the 1920s, prisoners performed various chores, were self-educated, and even had their own baseball team.

During the Great Depression, along with poverty, crime took hold of Americans. Bribery was rampant, gangsters had virtually taken over the country, and the economy was collapsing. In 1934, Alcatraz was closed as a regular prison and transferred to the Department of Justice, whose officials began to reform the prison institution. “The Rock,” as Alcatraz was already called at that time, was decided to be made an exemplary institution and at the same time the most terrible place in the whole world. Alcatraz was rebuilt, the number of cells was increased to 600, and the premises were equipped with the latest technology. It was from then on that the prison became the place where crime bosses, daring raiders, brutal killers and lost psychopaths found their final refuge.

In 1962, the unthinkable happened in prison: three prisoners left their cells and swam off the island in an unknown direction. That daring escape became the most famous in the history of Alcatraz. And, as it turned out, the last. In 1963, the history of the most famous correctional institution came to an end.

Why were criminals afraid of Alcatraz?
Long before the high-profile escape, many amazing stories and events took place in the prison, making its reputation even more sinister and nightmarish. Since the 1920s, every elusive and dangerous gangster knew that if he was caught by the police or the FBI, he would be headed to Alcatraz. Ordinary criminals were not sent to Alcatraz by direct decision of the court; either the most brutal “enemies of the state” or unsuccessfully escaped prisoners ended up there. The cream of the criminal world knew that there was little chance of leaving prison alive: it was impossible to escape from there, and the prison sentences of local villains did not give any hope of getting out on their own.

Legends and myths constantly circled over the prison, many of which turned out to be ominous truths. Everyone understood that escaping from prison was almost impossible: there was a modern prison on the island, the cells had strong bars, there was automation everywhere, and tear gas canisters were installed in the kitchen. The latter, by the way, were never used. Each chamber was adjacent to the other, so there was no point in digging or destroying the wall. According to statistics, there were three prisoners for each warden, while in a regular prison there were as many as 12. The prison was surrounded by a strong and high wall, barbed wire was stretched everywhere and there were patrols. But even if a miracle happened (as in June 1962) and the prisoners found themselves outside the prison walls, then nature itself awaited them. Sheer cliffs, fierce winds, a constant tide, strong currents and icy water cut off the path to escape. It was 1.5 miles to the continent, and swimming such a distance, coupled with the above-mentioned natural conditions, is very difficult even for a professional swimmer. The prison authorities even calculated this: to prevent the prisoner’s body from being able to withstand a possible swim in icy water, only hot water was turned on in the Alcatraz showers so that the criminals would get used to the warmth.

There were also special rules regarding the status of a prisoner and his rights in Alcatraz. All prisoners were equal (the famous Al Capone was quickly explained upon arrival at Alcatraz that there were no privileges here), but they were divided according to the degree of danger. Depersonalization made it almost impossible for leaders and authorities to stand out, as has always been the case in ordinary prisons. There were no common cells: the prisoner was almost always alone with himself. Everyone had the right to a roof over their head, a uniform, food, a haircut once a month and a shave once a week. Prisoners could “earn” the right to work, and if they were lucky, to play sports, draw or even knit. All this was valued at Skala, because most of the time the prisoners sat alone in their cells. The food was very ordinary, but pasta was almost always on the menu, which drove many gourmets crazy.

The doors to the punishment cell were always open to special bullies, fighters and malicious opponents of the regime. There are still legends about block D - the darkest and gloomiest place in the entire prison. Here was a punishment cell in which the prisoner, who already spent most of his time alone with himself, was left to himself all day long. They say that there was one popular entertainment in the punishment cell: you toss a coin, then make several revolutions around its axis and start looking for it on the floor. And so on an infinite number of times, until calluses appear on the palms from probing the floor for a long time. At one time in Alcatraz it was forbidden to make any sounds while you were sitting in your cell. Long hours in absolute silence, the violation of which was punishable, turned into psychological torture, many went crazy.

The daily routine of a typical prisoner looked like this. At 6:30 the cells opened and the crowd went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Work began at seven, interrupted by lunch at 11:40, and then continued until 16:13. After dinner, the prisoners went to their cells, where they went about their business until 21:30. Alcatraz was famous for its checks and controls; unscheduled searches of cells were constantly carried out. Over the course of a day, the overseers carried out 13 roll calls, taking a break only at night.

Alcatraz in popular culture

During its existence, the prison has gained a gloomy authority and a reverent craving for tourists - including its many stories and legends. The most interesting ones are related to the regime in a correctional institution. It is not surprising that the prison, located next to an energetic and lively metropolis, attracted so much attention. They say that the worst thing for a prisoner was not to be in block D, but in a cell from which the city was visible. The sights of freedom, so close and at the same time so far away, drove me crazy.

As in many prisons, the prisoners in Alcatraz found a way to exchange a few words. This was especially true when people could be sent to a punishment cell for talking too much. There was a so-called toilet connection: a large pipe under the cells connecting all the latrines. As long as the toilet was not occupied and sewage was not rushing through the pipe, you could chat with a friend from any cell in the prison.

The outside world influenced Alcatraz, although time and events here took their course. For example, prison corridors were named after famous American streets. It wouldn't be surprising if a visitor to Alcatraz walked through Times Square and ended up on Broadway. Broadway, the long corridor in the prison, had the best cells. The overseers rarely walked here and it was relatively light.

Alcatraz in cinema

About a dozen famous films have been made about the mysterious prison, and Alcatraz has appeared as an ominous backdrop in hundreds of films and TV series. Basically, the plot of the films was associated with the difficult fate of a prisoner who found himself within the walls of an island correctional facility. Sometimes the scenario of a fantastic action movie unfolded in Alcatraz, the plot of which was associated with mysticism and riddles. Good examples are the film “Massacre on the Rock” (1988), in the plot of which universal evil lives on the territory of a prison. Mutants are treated in Alcatraz in the science fiction blockbuster “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006), and here the prison becomes the site of the decisive battle. Also, the theme of a terrible curse, mysticism and the idea of ​​​​the special purpose of Alcatraz can be seen in the films “The Curse of Alcatraz Prison” (2007), “The Alcatraz Experiment” (1950), “The Book of Eli” (2009).

A science fiction series of the same name was filmed about Alcatraz. The plot centers on the mysterious disappearance of criminals and guards that happened half a century ago. A detective and an Alcatraz expert try to find the truth within the walls of "The Rock."

Perhaps the most popular film (largely thanks to the famous actors and crew) about the prison was made in 1996. The film “The Rock” by Michael Bay collected a good box office worldwide not only thanks to the special effects that the director loves so much. The great and terrible Sir Sean Connery plays the role of the last inmate of the prison, who is forced to help an inexperienced FBI chemist, played by Nicolas Cage, neutralize the villains who have settled on the island and threaten to exact retribution by striking San Francisco. The plot of the film is not based on real events, but the theme of the ominous and most closed prison is shown in full. The action film shows prison locations in detail, and the main character himself arranges an escape from Alcatraz.

If we remember the most reliable film associated with “The Rock,” then we cannot help but mention “Escape from Alcatraz” (1979). This is perhaps the most atmospheric and certainly the most believable film story about Alcatraz. The film tells the story of the most famous prison escape committed by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers on June 11, 1962. “Escape from Alcatraz” shows the authentic life of the prison, the atmosphere that reigned within the walls of the “Rock”, the locations and the prison hopelessness pressing on each prisoner are well shown. The main characters are fleeing from this hopelessness; the role of the protagonist is played by the legendary Clint Eastwood.

The story of the escape is generally considered unique, and the incident itself occurred thanks to a clearly planned plan and great luck, which was on the side of the criminals. Morris and his friends dug out a passage leading to the ventilation shaft of the room, from where they got to the roof of the building. Leaving instead expertly made dolls made of papier-mâché and hair, the attackers got a head start of nine to ten hours and, presumably, sailed towards San Francisco. Sophistication, planning, high precision, luck and audacity helped the criminals become the first prisoners to escape from the “Rock.” Most likely, according to experts, Morris and company died in the bay, but so far not a single body has been found, nor any mention of living criminals at large. Clint Eastwood faithfully recreates every step of Morris in Escape from Alcatraz, languishing in a cramped cell.

Alcatraz on TV

Hundreds of experts on dozens of television shows and analytical programs have discussed the mysterious prison thousands of times. In The Magic of David Copperfield, the famous illusionist escapes from Alcatraz; the documentary series True Story examines Morris' escape; The Lonely Island: Alcatraz in Hidden explores little-known facts about the prison.

In the next episode of the popular program “MythBusters,” the myth regarding the impossibility of escaping from prison was dispelled. The transfer team independently went through almost all the stages of preparation for the escape and even assembled the same raft on which Morris and his friends disappeared from Alcatraz.

Alcatraz and music

Enough songs have also been written about the most famous prison to indicate the influence of Alcatraz on music. One of the most famous performers who sang the praises of prison was Malvina Reynolds. The composition “Alcatraz” (“Pelican Island”) appeared as a single in 1969, and was later re-released in the singer’s posthumous album. June Carter Cash, wife of the famous Johnny Cash, wrote a song about “The Rock,” also calling it “Alcatraz.” American rockers from Redbone named one of their songs after a prison, including it in their 1970 album.

In general, the name of the prison and numerous variations are mentioned in many songs by country artists, rock musicians, electronic compositions and other genres. Often the name "Alcatraz" is mentioned to mean something unattainable, as was the case with the song "She's My Alcatraz" by punk rockers The Mr. T Experience.

Alcatraz in the gaming industry

It would be naive to believe that the legendary prison was not used as a location by game developers. That’s right, the landscape of Alcatraz and the premises of the “Rock” have appeared more than once in shooters and action-adventure games.

Alcatraz: Prison Escape, released in 2001, combined arcade, first-person shooter and good horror. The main character was unjustly convicted and intends to repeat Morris's feat and leave prison with his own feet.

The famous Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 partly repeats the plot of Bay's action movie "The Rock". There are hostages held by terrorists. In the equally popular shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops II, in a special zombie mode, the main character must kill the dead who have captured the prison. We know for sure about the game where the legendary prison was supposed to appear, but the location was mercilessly cut out by the developers. We're talking about Fallout 2.

Dozens of other gaming masterpieces contain references to “The Rock,” either direct or indirect. For example, in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 there is a corresponding game level; one location from World of Warcraft inherited the name of the prison.

Oh yes, in the popular post-apocalyptic shooter Crysis 2, the main character, dressed in an exoskeleton, had the call sign “Alcatraz”.

Alcatraz and sports

On the first day of summer, dozens of people again and again try to repeat the act of Frank Morris. "Escape from Alcatraz" is the name of an annual triathlon held in San Francisco. The competition has a reputation for being extremely challenging and is one of the most prestigious races on the planet. Trained athletes swim 2.4 kilometers (that's how much from the ominous island to the mainland), then cycle 29 kilometers through mountainous terrain, and then run 13 kilometers. It is on Alcatraz that the first point in the race is located.

The water temperature in the bay rarely rises to 14 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, the ordeal has a tragic incident in its history. The 46-year-old lawyer from Austin had not swam even five minutes after the start when he died of a heart attack.

Once a year, basketball hoops are placed in the prison blocks of Alcatraz and markings are applied. Red Bull King of the Rock is a one-on-one streetball competition, the final stage of which takes place in the dungeons of Alcatraz. Basketball players fight head to head, one on one, and the loser leaves the court. The atmosphere at the competition corresponds to the spirit of the prison.

“No sooner have you examined Al Capone's cell than you are already in the thick of a merciless basketball match. And when evening comes and the lights on the court go out, the darkness and all the despair of this place gathers over you. Under no circumstances do you want to be late for the boat that takes participants back to the mainland,” says Patrick Cassidy, editor of Dime magazine.

Alcatraz, also known as The Rock, is an island in San Francisco Bay.

The island was used as a defensive fort, later as a military prison, and then as a high-security prison for especially dangerous criminals and those who attempted to escape from previous places of detention.

Due to the high maintenance costs associated with the location, the Department of Defense decided to close this famous prison in 1934 and it was taken over by the Department of Justice.

Currently, the prison has been disbanded, the island has been turned into a museum, accessible by ferry from San Francisco from Pier 33.

As it turned out, getting tickets to Alcatraz is not so easy; it’s better to book a couple of days in advance. We bought tickets from a cruise company that officially organizes tours to the island. Although we had booked in advance, there were almost no seats available.

In the morning we took a passing transport to Pier 33. San Francisco still surprises me with its streets.

OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE was visible from the pier

We stood in line and the ferry headed towards the island

Alcatraz can be seen from afar

To the left of the Golden Gate bridge

The island is not that far, only 1.5 miles, but the wind is very strong.

We approach the island pier

View of Downtown from the island

General form

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 brought thousands of ships into the San Francisco Bay, creating an urgent need for a lighthouse. The first lighthouse was installed and launched on Alcatraz in the summer of 1853. In 1856, a bell was installed at the lighthouse, which was used in the fog.

In 1909, during the construction of the prison, after 56 years of use, the first Alcatraz lighthouse was dismantled. The second lighthouse was installed next to the prison building on December 1, 1909. And in 1963, the lighthouse was modified and made automatic and autonomous, and it no longer required round-the-clock maintenance.

As a result of the gold rush, there was a need to protect the bay. In 1850, by order of the President of the United States, they began to build a fort on the island, where more than 110 long-range guns were installed. The fort was subsequently used to house prisoners. In 1909, the army demolished it, leaving only the foundation, and by 1912 a new building was built for prisoners. The photo shows one of the remaining guns.

Workshop building

The location in the middle of a bay with icy water and strong sea currents ensured the island's natural isolation. Thanks to this, Alcatraz was soon considered by the US Army as an ideal place to hold prisoners of war. In 1861, the first Civil War prisoners from various states began arriving on the island, and in 1898, as a result of the Spanish-American War, the number of prisoners of war increased from 26 to more than 450. In 1906, after the San Francisco earthquake destroyed much of the city, hundreds of civilian prisoners were moved to the island for safety reasons. A large prison building was built in 1912, and by 1920 the three-story structure was almost completely filled with prisoners.

Alcatraz was the Army's first long-term prison and began to gain a reputation for being harsh on offenders, who faced harsh disciplinary measures. The punishment could be assignment to hard work, placement in solitary confinement with a limited ration of bread and water, and the list was not limited to this.

Despite the harsh disciplinary measures applied to criminals, the prison regime was not strict. Many prisoners performed household chores for the families living on the island, and a select few were sometimes trusted to look after the children. Some took advantage of the vulnerability of the prison security organization to escape. Despite all efforts, most of the fugitives were unable to reach the shore and had to return back to be rescued from the icy water. Those who did not return died from hypothermia.

Over the decades, prison rules have become even softer. In the late 1920s, prisoners were allowed to build a baseball field and even wear their own baseball uniforms. The army command organized boxing competitions between prisoners, held on Friday evenings. The fights were very popular, with civilians from San Francisco often traveling to Alcatraz just to watch them.

Prison guards lived in these barracks with their families, I can’t imagine what it was like to live on an island with prisoners... Their children went to school every day by ferry and returned back in the evening

During the Great Depression (late 1920s to mid-1930s), crime rates increased greatly and the era of organized crime began. Large mafia families and individual gangs waged a war for spheres of influence, the victims of which were often civilians and law enforcement officers. Gangsters controlled power in the cities, many officials received bribes and turned a blind eye to the crimes that were happening.

In response to the crimes of the gangsters, the government decided to reopen Alcatraz, but as a federal prison. Alcatraz satisfied the basic requirements: to place dangerous criminals far from society and to frighten the remaining criminals who were still at large.

water tower

Entrance to the main prison building

In April 1934, the military prison received a new face and a new direction. Before the reconstruction, the bars and bars were wooden - they were replaced with steel ones. Electricity was installed in each cell, and all service tunnels were walled up to prevent prisoners from entering them for shelter and further escape. Along the perimeter of the prison building, above the cells, special weapon galleries were placed, which allowed the guards to stand watch while protected by steel bars.

Shower room

The cells in the prison are very small

The main corridor of the prison building was called "Broadway" by prisoners, and the cells on the second tier along this passage were the most coveted in the prison. Other cells were located downstairs, were cold, and were frequently passed by staff and prisoners.

The prison had its own Times Square

And also Michigan Avenue

The courts did not sentence people to imprisonment in Alcatraz; especially “distinguished” prisoners from other prisons were usually transferred there. It was impossible to voluntarily choose Alcatraz to serve a prison sentence. Although exceptions were made for some gangsters, including Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly (in those years “public enemy No. 1”) and others.

Prison officers

Federal prison governors had the right to transfer any offending prisoner to Alcatraz. Despite popular belief, Alcatraz did not only house gangsters and especially dangerous criminals. Alcatraz was filled from other prisons with fugitives and rebels or those who systematically violated the regime of detention. Of course, there were gangsters, but most of them were sentenced to death.

This is what the supervisor's uniform looked like

Prisoners

The numbers in Alcatraz were given in order. As you can see from the photo, Al Capone ended up in Alcatraz in 1985, in 1934. He was immediately told that he would not receive any leniency or privileges. He often clashed with other prisoners and was once even stabbed in the prison barbershop.

Notorious prisoner George "Machine Gun" was sent to Alcatraz on September 4, 1934 for kidnapping an oil tycoon. Warden Johnston considered him a model prisoner because, despite his menacing nickname, he was distinguished by exemplary behavior and worked in the prison laundry until he died of a heart attack on his birthday in 1954.

Another famous prisoner, Robert Stroud, better known as “The Birdcatcher,” was sent to Alcatraz in 1942. He spent 17 years on “The Rock,” six of them in a cell in Block D and eleven years in the prison hospital, as he was considered mentally ill. . When a bird catcher became angry and could not calm down in the hospital, he was put in a bath of ice: this was considered the most effective remedy for the mentally ill. When Stroudt was transferred to Alcatraz, he was forbidden to breed birds, it was a great loss for him and he could only watch them from the window. This is what is considered the cause of his mental breakdowns and his death in 1963.

The rules at Alcatraz have changed dramatically. Now each prisoner had only his own cell and minimal privileges to receive food, water, clothing, medical and dental care. Prisoners at Alcatraz were not allowed to have any personal belongings. To obtain privileges to communicate with visitors, visit the prison library and write, the prisoner had to earn it through work and impeccable behavior. At the same time, prisoners with bad behavior were not allowed to work in prison. For the slightest offense, all privileges were revoked.

All media were prohibited in Alcatraz, including reading newspapers. All letters, as in any other prison, were corrected by a prison official.

Block D. Those who distinguished themselves even in Alcatraz were placed here. These are 6 closed dark chambers, they were also called “The Hole”. The prisoners went crazy here. They were usually placed here for several days or more. No one sat here for more than 19 days.

Inside view

Exterior view

Prison library

Prisoners' exercise yard

The prison canteen, as the most vulnerable place for fights and brawls, was equipped with tear gas containers, which were located in the ceiling and controlled remotely. Security towers were placed around the perimeter of the island in the most strategic places. The doors were equipped with electrical sensors. The prison block contained a total of 600 cells and was divided into blocks B, C and D, whereas before reconstruction the prison population never exceeded 300 prisoners. The introduction of new security measures, along with the cold waters of San Francisco Bay, created a reliable barrier for even the most incorrigible criminals.

Entrance to the dining room

This is what she looks like now

Administrative building

Security room

Room for meeting relatives

And this is the view from the prisoners

View of freedom from the window. Apparently they did this on purpose to make the person suffer...

Well, actually about the famous escape.

In general, during the 29 years of operation of the prison, presumably, not a single successful escape was made, however, since five prisoners who tried to escape could not be found (neither alive nor dead), this cannot be said for sure. In total, thirty-four prisoners organized 14 escape attempts, two attempted to escape twice; seven were shot, two drowned, five went missing, the rest were captured and returned to prison. Two prisoners tried to swim away from the island, but were caught: one in 1945, the other in 1962.

Well, the most famous escape was made by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. The three escaped from their cells on June 11, 1962, in one of the most elaborate escape plans ever.

Frank Morris

John Anglin

Clarence Anglin

Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers took turns picking out pieces of moisture-damaged concrete to reach the service tunnel. They used a homemade drill for this purpose, made from a metal spoon soldered with silver from a dime to a motor stolen from a vacuum cleaner. The noise from the improvised drill was masked by the music that had been playing for an hour.

When the hole in the wall was ready, the trio made papier-mâché dolls in their beds so that their absence would not be discovered prematurely by the guards.

Behind the cells in the prison building there was an unprotected service tunnel about one meter wide

However, most likely, the fugitives did not swim to the shore, perishing somewhere in the cold waters of the bay. Officially, they are considered missing. According to the unofficial version, they could have reached the shore and disappeared. The official FBI investigation was assisted by another prisoner, Allen West, who also plotted the escape, but due to an oversight on the final day, the escape was never successful.

However, it cannot be concluded that they drowned. Still, for Morris this ending seems too simple. He was no fool, he spent most of his life in prison and made 11 escape attempts, not counting this one, and he also had an IQ of 133 points. He was an escape artist and definitely knew the dangers of the bay. And he had months to observe the current from the exercise yard and plan a route. The escape itself was very cleverly planned, and they clearly paid enough attention to the main obstacle to freedom.

The idea that at least some of the fugitives managed to reach the shore is supported by the fact that the Anglin brothers were from swampy Florida, where the forest is flooded by the sea during high tides, they knew how to build rafts, control the current, and were good swimmers.

The fact that the bodies were not found suggests that the prisoners reached the mainland. However, on the night of the escape in particular, around the same time, a man named Seymour Webb threw himself from the Golden Gate Bridge and his body was not found.

The following facts speak in favor of the official version. The water temperature in the bay was about 10 degrees, after about 20 minutes the cold began to affect the body. The temperature of the water in the Alcatraz showers was moderately hot so that the prisoners' bodies would not become accustomed to the cold water. In addition, two days later, a waterproof bag was found near Angel Island containing a phone book, money and family photographs belonging to one of the Anglin brothers. In addition, a homemade life jacket was discovered with noticeable teeth marks near the valve, which suggested that the clamp was not airtight, and it was more difficult for the swimmer to stay on the surface of the water.

On July 7, 1962, the Norwegian cargo ship SS Norefjell was leaving Pier 38 when a body was spotted floating twenty miles northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge. The man was wearing blue denim pants similar to a prisoner's uniform. According to the FBI, there were no other missing or drowned persons wearing similar clothing at this time.

In 2003, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-creators of the San Francisco-based Discovery Channel television series MythBusters, tried to figure out whether it was possible for the fugitives to survive. Using the same materials to build the raft as in 1962, they built a raft from 30 rubber raincoats and made oars from plywood (presumably the same material was used by the real fugitives). The MythBusters logically assumed that since the fugitives were smart enough to plan such an escape, then most likely they were smart enough to use the current as an assistant in their escape, which means they were not sailing to Angel Island, as the police believe and about which they are probably introducing delusion, they told the fourth participant in the escape, and to the north side of the Marin Headlands or the “Golden Gate” of San Francisco. Heineman and Savage waited for similar weather conditions and current patterns typical for the time of year when the prisoners escaped.

The third prisoner was played by another crew member, Wil Abbott. They began rowing downstream toward the Marin Headlands, near the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. The swim took no more than 40 minutes, and Heineman and Savage concluded that perhaps the fugitives managed to reach land and escape.

According to Alcatraz historian Frank Heney, who spoke with relatives of the Anglin brothers, they claim to have received a postcard from South America signed by both brothers, but they never heard a word about Frank Morris. Despite this data, the actual fate of the prisoners remains unknown, and the $1,000,000 reward for their capture offered in 1993 by Red & White Fleet, the operator of ferry services to Alcatraz, still remains unclaimed.

The "Battle of Alcatraz" was the name given to a failed escape attempt that took place from May 2 to May 4, 1946, in which two guards were killed (one died from severe wounds later) and three prisoners, and 14 guards and one prisoner were injured.

Bernard Coy, a bank robber serving a twenty-year sentence, found a weak spot in the bars protecting the western weapons warehouse. At approximately 2 o'clock in the afternoon on May 2, he (after being on a diet for a long time) undressed, smeared himself with fat and climbed up the grate below the weapons depot.

Using a homemade device he had made in his workshop, he bent the bars slightly and squeezed between them, outwitting the guards on duty. Having reached the target, he armed himself with a Springfield rifle and began throwing automatic weapons, keys, batons and gas grenades to his accomplices. Armed prisoners captured nine guards and locked them in a cell.

The prisoners' goal was to seize a boat that was supposed to arrive at the prison from the mainland. They planned, hiding behind the captured guards, to try to capture the boat and use it to get to San Francisco. But to do this they needed to get outside the prison building, and then the prisoners realized that they did not have the key to the door leading to the courtyard. Bernard Coy and his accomplice Joseph Kretzer began demanding the key they needed from the captured guards, and when they realized they couldn't get it, Kretzer began shooting at the guards in the cell. And by luck, the key was not put back in place by one of the captured guards, Bill Miller.

Later, the prisoners found a key on him, but due to the selection of all the keys to the door leading to the courtyard, its locking mechanism worked, and the prisoners were trapped.

The shooting did not go unnoticed; the siren was turned on and help was called. The Marines, Coast Guard, and later FBI agents soon arrived to help. It was decided to launch an assault, the guards opened fire on the rioting prisoners, and the assault team tried to enter the prison. One fighter from the assault team was mortally wounded, probably by a bullet from his partner. The Marines began lobbing tear gas grenades into Cell Block D. Robert Stroud, "The Birdcatcher of Alcatraz" (mentioned above), took on the heroic role of closing the steel doors under gunfire to protect the prisoners. The prisoners, realizing that it was all over, returned to their cells.

At 9:45 a.m. on May 4, guards stormed the prison. They discovered the bodies of Kretzer, Coy and Marvin Hubbard. Prisoners Miran Thompson and Sam Shockley were later executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin in 1948 for their participation in the riot. Nineteen-year-old Clarence Carnes received a second life sentence instead of the death penalty for active participation in the riot.

Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, 2.5 km directly from San Francisco itself. Alcatraz is a very popular attraction in San Francisco and has been featured in many films, cartoons, television shows, books and computer games. At the same time, few realize what a rich history this rocky island can boast of.

Native American tribes lived around the San Francisco Bay about 10,000 years ago. Historians suggest that they sailed to the island and used it for their own purposes. In August 1775, Spanish naval officer Juan Manuel de Ayala entered San Francisco Bay and explored territories still unknown to Europeans. He gave one of the islands in the bay the name “Island of Seabirds” (La Isla de Los Alcatraces). It is not entirely clear which island he named so, but over time the name Alcatraz was assigned to a small barren rock island.

In February 1848, California became a possession of the United States, an event that coincided with the discovery of gold in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The “gold rush” that began immediately after this led to an explosive growth in the population of San Francisco, when in three years the number of residents increased from 500 to 35,000. To simplify navigation in the bay, a lighthouse was built on Alcatraz in 1854, which became the first on the west coast of the United States . The US Army, realizing that San Francisco was vulnerable to enemy attack, sought to protect the entrance to the harbor, including a military fort on Alcatraz Island. The fort was completed in December 1859. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Alcatraz was the largest military fort west of the Mississippi River.




The period of military prison on the island began in 1861, when the army began sending convicted soldiers to Alcatraz. Over the next forty years, the military importance of the island declined and in 1907 all guns were removed from the fort. Prisoner soldiers built most of the buildings on the island, in fact this was the last role of the military on Alcatraz, who abandoned the island in 1933.

A federal prison existed on the island for 28 years from 1934 to 1963. Alcatraz was a maximum security prison with maximum security and a minimum of privileges for prisoners. Among the prisoners arriving at Alcatraz were the most notorious US criminals, gang leaders and especially dangerous repeat offenders. The 336 regular cells and 42 solitary cells were never completely full; on average, the island prison housed about 260 prisoners. Alcatraz was a special prison where prisoners from other prisons were sent for misdeeds. Accordingly, good behavior in prison made it possible to earn a transfer to another institution. Almost never were convicts released directly from Alcatraz. On average, prisoners spent about 8 years on the island.

According to the federal government, none of the prisoners who tried to escape from the island were able to do so. There were 14 attempts in total, involving 36 prisoners. 23 were caught, six were shot, two more drowned. Five people went missing, their bodies were never found and no one saw them again. However, from 1861 to 1933, when a military prison operated on Alcatraz, successful attempts to escape directly from the island were recorded.

The famous mafioso Al Capone stayed on the island for 4.5 years. Capone did not become an authoritative figure among the prisoners and did not receive any privileges. Moreover, his criminal fame made him a target for other prisoners, so one of the prisoners stabbed him with scissors. In 1939, Al Capone was transferred to another prison, where he served the remaining 11-year sentence.

Alcatraz prison photo

Attorney General Robert Kennedy ordered the closure of Alcatraz prison in 1963. There were two main reasons. Firstly, the stay of one prisoner cost the treasury $10 daily, while in any other prison only $3. The second reason was the severe pollution of the bay by sewage water from the island. Hollywood has released many films about Alcatraz, but the cruelty and violence on the island were clearly embellished. In reality, Alcatraz was a tough but relatively safe prison.

Tourists depart for Alcatraz from Pier 33, located on the Embarcadero. Please note that this is a very popular attraction with tourists, so tickets to the island may be sold out 7-10 days in advance. It is highly advisable to take care of reserving tickets in advance.

There are several types of Alcatraz tours, ranging from $26 to $58. On average, the duration of the tour is 2.5-4 hours. In addition to day tours, a unique night tour to the island is offered. Tourists can take advantage of audio tours, which were recorded using the real voices of guards and prisoners (in English). The best time to visit Alcatraz Island is from April to May or September to October. From January to March you can avoid the crowds.