Legends of Alcatraz. Alcatraz - the legendary prison of America ... (50 photos) Famous prison in America

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

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

In February 1848, California became a possession of the United States, this event 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 inhabitants increased from 500 to 35,000. To facilitate navigation in the bay, in 1854 a lighthouse was built on Alcatraz, which became the first west coast USA. The US Army, realizing that San Francisco was vulnerable to enemy attack, sought to protect the entrance to the harbor, including the 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 island's military importance declined, and in 1907 all guns were removed from the fort. The prisoner soldiers built most of the buildings on the island, in fact it was the last role of the military on Alcatraz, who left 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 minimum privileges for inmates. Among the prisoners arriving at Alcatraz were the most notorious criminals in the United States, gang leaders and especially dangerous repeat offenders. 336 ordinary cells and 42 solitary cells were never completely filled, on average, about 260 prisoners were kept on the prison island. Alcatraz was a special prison where prisoners from other prisons were sent for misconduct. Accordingly, good behavior in prison made it possible to earn a transfer to another institution. Almost never the convicts were 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 the island were able to do so. There were 14 attempts in total, involving 36 prisoners. 23 were caught, six were shot dead, 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 functioned on Alcatraz, successful attempts to escape directly from the island were recorded.

The famous mafia 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.

Photo of Alcatraz prison

Attorney General Robert Kennedy ordered the closure of the 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 heavy pollution of the bay with sewage from the island. Hollywood has released many films about Alcatraz, but the cruelty and violence on the island has been 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 tourist attraction, so tickets to the island can be sold out 7-10 days in advance. It is highly advisable to take care of booking tickets in advance.

There are several types of tours to Alcatraz, costing 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 of the island is offered. Tourists can take advantage of audio tours, which were recorded using the real voices of guards and prisoners (in English). Best time to visit Alcatraz Island from April to May or from September to October. From January to March you can avoid the crowds.

If there is the most famous prison in the world, then it is undoubtedly Alcatraz, which is located on the island of the same name in San Francisco Bay. Even 100 years ago, she terrified the prisoners, because the most notorious criminals and brutal killers were kept in isolation and strict discipline. And the remote island suited for this purpose as well as possible.

Alcatraz and Golden Gate - two symbols of San Francisco

The history of the discovery of the island and the prison

Despite its proximity to the coast, the island was discovered only in 1775 by a Spaniard, who gave it this name, which in Spanish means "gannet". However, until today, ornithologists have not observed either boobies or their relatives, pelicans, here. Therefore, it remains a mystery why the island got its name. But there is another name for this place, which was popular in the underworld - rock (The Rock) . To get on the "Rock" meant to get a term in the Alcatraz prison.

Until 1848 there was no need for an island. But this year, gold was discovered in California, which brought a large number of ships here. There was a need for a lighthouse, which was installed on Alcatraz Island in 1853. And after 3 years, a bell was added, which was used as an additional landmark in heavy fog.

The island gained fame thanks to the prison that is located on it.

All the same "gold rush" forced the local authorities to take up the strengthening of the bay in order to protect it. And a large-scale construction of a fortress with a long-range gun began on the island.

Isolated fortress on separate standing island in the midst of icy water made it an excellent place to keep prisoners of war during the Civil War. And already in 1912, a full-fledged prison was opened on the island, which became famous not only for its location, but also for the harsh disciplinary regime that reigned within its walls. At first, political prisoners stayed here, but very quickly the prison filled up with real criminals: cold-blooded killers, swindlers and famous gangsters. And, it should be noted, the time of the Great Depression greatly contributed to the fact that crime in the city of San Francisco grew by leaps and bounds. Therefore, it is not surprising that the prison cells of Alcatraz were filled to capacity with the most notorious criminals. In order to enhance security in 1934, it was decided to reconstruct it. One of the best security experts was invited for this project Robert Burge (Robert Burge) who was supposed to build a prison from which it is impossible to escape. And, it should be noted, he almost succeeded.

On the pier there is a miniature model of the island. From here you can see in detail all the details on the island

Feature of Alcatraz

The successful location of the prison, its isolation from the rest of the city, the special location of all the premises and special security measures in it made it almost the safest place in the city, given the number of criminals per square meter.

Upon arrival on the island, you will immediately see that Alcatraz is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
This is what the houses in which the prison staff lived with their families on the island look like
prison morgue
The road from the ferry to the prison
There were guards all along the road from the ferry to the prison doors.
Main entrance to the prison
Laundry where prisoners were given prison uniforms
Shower room where only hot water flowed from the faucet

A number of adjustments have been made to enhance security. Observation towers were installed along the entire perimeter of the island, underground tunnels were filled with concrete, the bars on all windows were replaced from wooden to metal. Tear gas canisters have been installed in public places where prisoners gather, such as canteens, which were activated remotely from the security post. According to Burge's special idea, none of the 600 prison cells were adjacent to the wall - they were connected by partitions only to each other. This was done for the case that if a prisoner can make a hole in the wall in order to escape, then he will not be free, but in the next cell.

Cameras in the main unit
Pretty unpretentious interior of a prison cell
Spiral staircase for security
humble library
Dining room entrance
The main passage in the prison was called Broadway. There was a custom according to which a newcomer who arrived at the "Rock" had to strip naked and walk down Broadway to the screams and whistles of other prisoners
Visits with relatives were made here

But the most severe obstacle was the icy water surrounding the island. In the warm season, its temperature barely rises above 14 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to overcome the distance to the coast of 2.4 miles by swimming, since hypothermia will come after 10 minutes of being in the water. And in order to prevent the prisoners from trying to harden themselves in a cold shower, only hot water was supplied in the prison.

Alcatraz offers a beautiful panorama of San Francisco

Despite the atmosphere of strictness reigning here, the criminals were left room for self-development and personal hobbies. There were always many books in the prison library, and once a week you could play some kind of musical instrument. Some prisoners even received privileges to knit or draw for good behavior.

In order to get into Alcatraz, you had to "distinguish yourself" in another federal prison. By court order, the prisoners were not sent here. Other than that, none of the indulgences available in other prisons through bribing the guards were here. All prisoners were equal, even if you are the world famous gangster Al Capone.

Block "D"

As in any other prison, especially violent criminals who did not follow the prison laws were placed in block "D", which caused cold horror in everyone else. Staying here was considered the highest punishment on the island. It consisted of 42 cells, including punishment cells or, as they were also called "pits". Staying in the "pit" meant a completely dark room, devoid of any light. The prisoner placed there did not have any personal belongings with him. And all he had to do was just sit in pitch darkness, losing track of the days. As one of the prisoners later said, in order not to go crazy in the "pit", he had to toss a coin up, listen to where it fell, and in pitch darkness rummage around the floor with his hands to find it. Only this occupation helped him not to go crazy. Some of the prisoners left the punishment cell as completely different people, and they did not always remain emotionally healthy. These cells were not supposed to have any bed and they had to sleep on a bare concrete floor, so their stay here affected both health and mental state. The main task of these cells was to break the spirit of the prisoner and discourage him from resisting the laws of the prison.

Entrance to block "D", which was located in a separate wing
The cells in block "D" were divided into two types: ordinary and punishment cells ("pits")
The punishment cells were tightly closed with doors and the prisoner found himself in pitch darkness for a week or even more.
In block "D" there are double bars on the windows

Notable inmates of Alcatraz

A special place in the history of the prison was occupied by criminals that the whole world heard about. The cream of the underworld also ended up behind bars in Alcatraz. Of course, the "star" of this prison was one of the most famous gangsters "Great" Al Capone ("Great" Al Capone), head of the Chicago mafia, operating in 1920-30.

Alfonso Gabriel Capone

Among the main charges attributed to Capone were murders, robbery, illegal sale of alcohol during the Prohibition, gambling, pimping. And it's far from full list all the "sins" for which it was possible to send him to prison. However, for none of them the state had accusations or witnesses, although everyone knew who was behind it all. Then the feds had to accuse the great mafia of tax evasion and put him in jail for 11 years. And if in other prisons Al Capone hardly noticed that he was behind bars: due to the bribed prison guards, he had his own cell equipped with everything necessary, servants, and he continued to manage his gangster empire from a distance, then when he got on "Rock", the situation has changed dramatically. He was made an ordinary ordinary prisoner who did everything on an equal basis with others. He even had to clean with a mop, which earned him the nickname "boss with a mop." Al Capone has always been distinguished by a violent temper and fearlessness, which greatly frightened other people. During one of the examinations in the Alcatraz prison, it was discovered that the mafioso was sick with syphilis, which was the reason for his fearlessness. After serving 7 years in Alcatraz, he came out of there a completely sick man who was no longer quoted in criminal circles. He died in his house from a heart attack, which is considered a rarity for bandits of this level.

Another legend of Alcatraz was a gangster Machine Gun Kelly. He got his nickname due to the fact that he never parted with a machine gun, especially during his many robberies. Behind him was bootlegging during the Prohibition, stealing people, smuggling. For some time, he was even considered the enemy of the country No. 1. He was caught, and accused of all the crimes he committed, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Of this period, he spent 17 years on Alcatraz. After that, he was transferred to another prison due to deteriorating health. He died in prison from a heart attack.

List of permanent "residents" of block "D"

Robert Stroud (Robert Stroud), better known as "Birdman of Alcatraz" was probably the most amazing prisoner on the island. He was a brutal killer, for which he received a life sentence. He spent 17 years on Alcatraz, 6 of which he spent in block "D", for especially dangerous prisoners. However, despite his cruelty to people, he turned out to be very sensitive to birds, and one day, having cured a dying sparrow, he gained fame as a bird lover. The canaries of other prisoners were brought to him, whom he trained for sale. After some time, the guards even allowed him to keep birds in cages that he himself made in his cell. During his prison stay, he wrote 2 books about canaries and their diseases. However, even the birds could not cure his brain from the psychosis that he was diagnosed with, and until his death he was considered a particularly dangerous criminal.

Prisoners and their crimes

Escape from Alcatraz

Despite all the ideas to build the most impregnable prison, there were about a dozen attempts to escape from it.

The most successful escape is made by three prisoners. June 11, 1962. They dug between the chamber and the ventilation shaft. A homemade drill from a spoon with a stolen motor from a vacuum cleaner helped them to gouge the hole. They only drilled into the wall on days when prisoners were allowed to play musical instruments so that no noise could be heard. They covered up the damage in the wall with old newspapers. So that the escape would not be revealed as long as possible, the prisoners prepared papier-mache dolls in advance, which they put instead of themselves in the bed. The smallest details were thought out, such as the real hair on the mannequins, which were stolen in advance from the prison barbershop. The prisoners crawled through the drilled hole and climbed onto the roof. From there, they descended to the ground through a drainpipe. With the help of 50 stolen rubberized raincoats, they built a raft and sailed away in an unknown direction. Until now, these three fugitives are wanted and a sum of $ 1 million has been assigned for their capture.

This case of escape excited the public and greatly shook the status of the impregnable "Wall". In addition, the leadership of the city realized the danger of a prison, which is located in close proximity to a large city, even if there is a strait with ice water between them.

This is the picture that the guards saw, until the escape was discovered
Nothing suspicious in appearance - the prisoner is sleeping

Officially, Alcatraz was closed to criminals a year after the successful escape - March 21, 1963. Among the main reasons is the expensive maintenance of the prison, to which all goods had to be delivered by ferry. Now there is a prison museum on the island, which is open to tourists, and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

How to get there

The only way to get to the island is by ferry, which departs from Pier 33 on the San Francisco waterfront. The company is transporting Alcatraz cruises according to exact schedule . Depending on what season you arrived in, the number of ferry trips during the day will change. We were in December, and due to the large flow of tourists, we were able to buy tickets for the tour only the next day. Therefore, it is better to take care of tickets and redeem them in advance at the pier or purchase at official website.

The boat that will take you to Alcatraz

Arriving on the island, you will receive an audio guide in the language you need and you can walk here as much as you want. You can return at any time, you just need to wait for the departing ferry, which runs on average once every 30 minutes.

Quotes of great men

Definitely, visiting Alcatraz has become one of the most vivid impressions during our 2 week US trip.

This place will never be forgotten

Alcatraz is the first military prison that held the most notorious criminals, such as Al Capone. It is located on a large rock that separates it from San Francisco by fast currents and predatory fish. No one has yet managed to escape from Alcatraz. For many years, the local population argued with the authorities regarding the island. The fact is that so much money was spent on the maintenance of criminals and guards, as if they did not live in prison, but in an expensive hotel. In this regard, in 1963, Alcatraz was closed. Since 1969, Indians have besieged the prison. For three whole years the siege against the American occupation of native lands lasted. Nowadays, this confrontation reminds of itself with drawings on the coast and exhibits of the national museum. After such a rich history, Alcatraz prison has become one of the main attractions of the city.

Alcatraz prison for tourists

For everyone, they conduct tours of the prison. The emphasis is on the cell of Al Capone and other criminals who have committed serious crimes. It was impossible to keep them in ordinary prisons, so they were transported here. Tourists will also be allowed to listen to recordings of conversations of guards or prisoners. You can visit Alcatraz even at night. There are so many tourists that it is better to buy tickets a few weeks in advance.

History of the prison

In 1775, a Spanish scientist mapped a small island, calling it Isla de Las Alcatraces because of the large number of pelicans inhabiting it. He then could not even imagine that in a few hundred years, this place would become famous as the most terrible prison in America. Alcatraz may be known to you from the movie "Escape from Alcatraz".

In 1848, a gold mine was found in San Francisco. The real gold rush begins. As a result, the number of inhabitants is increasing sharply. Precious metal seekers arrive both from land and from the ocean. Over time, the authorities realized that they needed to somehow protect the city. The choice fell on the island. It had a very favorable strategic position: it was located a couple of kilometers from the city, and the surrounding territory was clearly visible from it. In 1854, defensive fortifications were built on the island and cannons were erected.

Together with two neighboring forts, a defensive complex was formed. In 1960, the first war criminal was brought to the island. From that moment, the protective function of the island begins to weaken. It is impossible not to say that the tools did not have to be used. But in the role of a prison, Alcatraz lasted 100 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, the fortification was demolished, retaining the basement, for the construction of a new prison. For two years the criminals built the prison. The location next to strong currents made the island inaccessible, so Alcatraz soon began to be used to keep prisoners. Every year there were more and more of them. In 1920, all buildings and buildings were completely packed with criminals.

Alcatraz became the first prison for the military, which was distinguished by severity and harsh punishments for all the guilty. It could be hard work, and moving to a punishment cell without any amenities. And this is the smallest thing that could happen. Most of the prisoners were military men aged 24 years. As a rule, they were imprisoned for desertion or other minor crimes. But not without murderers, rapists and thieves. The prison order had its own peculiarities. Criminals were not allowed to be in the cell during the day. Persons of higher positions could generally freely walk throughout the entire territory of the prison.

Despite tough enforcement measures, the Alcatraz regime was not so harsh. Most of the prisoners worked for families living on the island. Some were even trusted to babysit. There were cases that such a regime was used to escape. But no one succeeded. Having escaped to freedom, the fugitives tried to swim across the sea, but the cold current prevented them from doing so. There was no choice and I had to go back. True, then the fugitives immediately fell ill and died of hypothermia.

Over time, prison conditions began to improve. A baseball field was built for the prisoners. They were even allowed to wear special uniforms during the games. Boxing competitions were organized on Fridays. It was such an interesting sight that even civilians came to the prison to watch the fight.

In the 30s of the last century, the era of mafias and clans began. Entire families took over neighborhoods, bribing local authorities to turn a blind eye to the surrounding mayhem. In this regard, the government decided to reopen the prison, making it federal. It was decided to reconstruct Alcatraz. To do this, they invited security expert Robert Burge. He created a new, more modified design for the building. In 1934, Alcatraz received a new breath. The wooden bars were replaced with metal ones. All cells had electricity. underground tunnels destroyed in order to eliminate any threat of escape. Canteens were equipped with tear gas canisters in case of fights. The guard towers were moved to the best places for viewing. The number of prison cells was increased. Now there are about 600 of them. New penalties for fugitives have been introduced. Now the renovated prison needed new authorities. James Johnston was put in charge. He was known for his strict principles and humane attitude towards the prisoners. He believed that criminals should be put to work in order to be respected. According to him, the only way to fix a person. The press and senior officials praised him for such a responsible attitude towards the prison and its inhabitants. During his work, almost all the prisoners worked. As a reward for diligence, they reduced the term. Prior to Alcatraz, Johnston worked at San Quentin Prison. There he developed programs to improve the lives of prisoners. But, despite the good attitude towards the prisoners, he had a very tough character. If he was disobeyed, the punishment was the most severe. Johnston even attended the hanging at San Quentin several times. So this man knew how to behave in Alcatraz.

After Johnston took office, the rules for keeping prisoners changed. Now each of them had his own separate cell. A system of privileges was created to receive food, medical care, clothing, etc. If the prisoner behaved well, he could even be allowed to communicate with the guests of the prison and visit the library. At the slightest disobedience, all privileges were immediately taken away. Reading newspapers and other media was prohibited in the prison, and letters were subject to correction. Alcatraz prison was not the place where the courts sentenced. The most distinguished were sent here. It was impossible to go to prison at will. The exception was Al Capone. This was an amazing person. The police chased him for a long three years, and got caught on an ordinary tax evasion. For a long time he was in prison in the city of Atlanta. Having bribed the guards and the authorities, he acquired another gang and at the same time led his mafia while in prison. After his act was revealed, and the criminal was transferred to Alcatraz. He was released into the wild as a hunched-over old man.

Another well-known criminal was Robert Stroud, who had the nickname "birders". In fact, he did not raise animals and spent almost his entire life in a completely different prison. In 1909, he was imprisoned in Washington for robbery. Having once killed a cellmate, he was transferred to a Kansas prison. In 1916, he kills a prison guard, and Stroud is sentenced to death. But at the tearful request of the mother of the prisoner, the death penalty is replaced with life imprisonment, and the criminal is sent to Alcatraz. Here he began to study birds and even created several educational books. He spent almost twenty years in prison.

In 1962, Alcatraz ceased to function. According to one version, this happened due to the too expensive maintenance of prisoners. The prison also needed a $4 million renovation.

Alcatraz Prison Escape

Escape from their prison is always the most interesting topic of conversation. There were many rumors about this. It was rumored that 36 people tried to escape in history, but none of the escapes failed. And all because of the cold current in the San Francisco Bay. The distance seemed small, but it was unrealistic to swim across. On boats, it was even more impossible to escape. When any ship approached, shelling began. There was also a rumor that bloodthirsty sharks were found in the bay. They often talked about a shark named Bruce, who was fed by the guards.

However, one prisoner was lucky and escaped. He reached the shore so exhausted that he immediately lost consciousness. Found him in the morning Small child with parents. They thought the man was trying to drown himself in the bay and called the police. The prisoner was immediately recognized and sent back.

In all 29 years of existence of the Alcatraz federal prison, not a single escape has been committed. True, until now five prisoners are listed as missing, most likely, they drowned.

Just 2.5 km from San Francisco is the famous landmark of America - the famous Alcatraz prison, known to everyone from many films, TV shows and games. Skala Prison, sometimes referred to as this, is located on a small rocky island in the middle of the bay (San Francisco Bay). The island where Alcatraz is located belongs to the State of California and belongs to national park"Golden Gate". Throughout its history, the territory of the island has been used as a fort, prison, and Lately- a museum. You can get to the museum island using a special ferry from San Francisco. About a million tourists visit Alcatraz Island every year.

The history of Alcatraz prison dates back to the time of the Gold Rush in California in 1848. In just three years, the population of San Francisco increased from 500 to 35,000 people. Thousands of ships stayed in the bay. There was a need for a lighthouse that would help ships navigate in heavy fog. In 1853, a lighthouse was built on the island of Alcatraz, which was the first in the entire western part of the United States. But after 56 years it was dismantled. Instead, a new lighthouse was built in 1909. After 54 years, the lighthouse was modernized, which made it capable of operating automatically, without requiring round-the-clock maintenance.

Alcatraz in 1895

Fort

The harbor area of ​​the California coast was not sufficiently protected from outside invasion. Therefore, there was a need to protect the bay. In 1850, US President Millard Fillmore commissioned the construction of a defensive fort on Alcatraz Island. In December 1859, the construction of the fortress was completed. On the territory of which there were about 110 guns. At the height of the civil war (1861-1865), the military fort was considered the largest in west side from the Mississippi River.

Cannons on Alcatraz Island with 15 inch cannonballs, 1868

military prison

Starting from 1861, the fortress on the island was also used as a military prison. This was facilitated by the favorable location of the mainland in the bay (more than 2 km from civilization), which was washed by ice water and had strong sea currents. That created a powerful isolation from the outside world. Therefore, it was an ideal place for keeping prisoners of war. The number of prisoners increased greatly during the Spanish-American War in 1898. From 25 to 450 people. The American prison Alcatraz became known for its strictness and was considered the first army prison with a long stay. Disciplinary measures in prison could be in the form of hard work, constant wearing of a heavy chain, moving to a special solitary punishment cell, which was considered the most severe punishment. The isolation room was practically without light, except for the slots through which food was served, in fact it was bread and water. The temperature in the room was quite cold, but the blanket was only given out for the night. Any kind of contact was prohibited. Therefore, staying in such a room seemed to be eternal, and some could not stand it and went crazy.

POWs at Alcatraz, 1902

More and more civilian prisoners began to enter the Alcatraz prison, temporarily transferred from other places. Especially after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, when thousands of houses were destroyed, and strong looting began in the city.

Over time, the discipline in the military prison decreased. For example, some prisoners were allowed to perform various chores for families living on the island. In the late 1920s, a baseball field was even built. Various boxing competitions were held, to which civilians from San Francisco even came. But in the end, the military authorities decided to completely abandon the prison because of the high cost of maintaining it. Therefore, in 1934 the prison was officially closed.

High Security Federal Penitentiary

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the United States experienced the Great Depression, accompanied by riots and organized crime. For the sphere of influence, a war was waged between various mafia families and gangs. And, as a rule, ordinary citizens and policemen became victims. Officials received bribes, turning a blind eye to lawlessness, and power in the cities essentially belonged to gangsters.

For this reason, the US authorities reopened the Alcatraz prison in 1934. However, they completely rebuilt the buildings on the island. So the wooden bars and bars were replaced with steel ones. Electricity was provided in each cell. All unnecessary tunnels were walled up. Armory rooms for guards were built in the prison building. The most popular place, namely the prison cafeteria, was equipped with special tanks of tear gas. After all, it was in this room that fights and various disassemblies often arose. Almost all doors had electric sensors. The best security specialists (Robert Burge, and others) were connected to the project. And also appointed was James A. Johnston, known as the "Chief of the Golden Rule." He was distinguished by his strict principles and reformist approach to prisoners. Thus, the Alcatraz prison has become a nightmare for the entire underworld and has become an occasion for various rumors and myths.

Prison cells at Alcatraz

Prisoners of Alcatraz and escape attempts

The most violent prisoners from other prisons were transferred to Alcatraz. You couldn't get in directly. Only for some gangsters did they make exceptions, among which were: Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Alcatraz prisoners lived in separate cells. Possessed minimal privileges to receive medical care, water, food, clothing. They were forbidden to have any personal belongings, read newspapers. The prisoner of Alcatraz had to earn the opportunity to communicate with visitors, visit the library and write letters. Moreover, all privileges were removed at the slightest violation of the rules of conduct in prison.

A typical day starts at 6:30 in the morning. 25 minutes were given to clean the cell, then there was a roll call. And at exactly 6:55 everyone was heading to the dining room. After a 20 minute breakfast, prison work began. This daily rhythm in the prison did not change for several years.

Alcatraz Prison Escape Attempts

As mentioned earlier, escaping from Alcatraz prison was practically impossible. Nevertheless, in history there were a couple of attempts to escape from the most stringent American prison at that time. There is no official confirmation of a successful escape from prison. Nevertheless, it was not possible to find the five prisoners who were missing. A total of 34 prisoners tried to escape from the island. Of these, two drowned, seven were shot dead, five were missing, the rest were intercepted and returned back. The most famous escape attempts were made in 1946 (The Battle of Alcatraz) and in 1962 (the escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers).

Closing of the Alcatraz prison

The Alcatraz prison was closed on March 21, 1963. The reason was that the cost of maintaining the prison was too high. It was necessary to import food, clothing and other things from the mainland. Periodically make repairs, which were estimated at 3-5 million dollars. That's why they closed Alcatraz.

Tour of Alcatraz video

While the Vietnam War was going on and the hippie movement was booming, a couple of Indian tribes moved to live on the island of Alcatraz. According to the law on free movement, they were allowed to do this, but by a court order in 1971 they were forced to leave Alcatraz. At the same time, leaving behind a lot of destruction and debris. Many buildings were damaged due to frequent fires, and most of the walls were painted, inscriptions that remain to this day.

In 1971, Alcatraz was attached to the Golden Gate Park, making it a museum complex. And in 1973 it was visited by the first tourists.

Alcatraz (USA) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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The most famous prison in the United States and, perhaps, the whole world, Alcatraz is not only a correctional institution (by the way, it has been functioning only as a museum for more than 30 years), but also a small picturesque island 15 minutes by sea from the San Francisco pier . Motor boats 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 has been synonymous with hell for those prisoners who were unlucky enough to serve time here. Close "loners", gloomy punishment cells and narrow barred passages - after seeing all this, you begin to appreciate freedom in the best possible way.

A bit of history

The history of Alcatraz began at the end of the 18th century, when a Spanish navigator discovered the island and named it Pelicania (this is how “alcatraz” is translated from Spanish). A century later, during the Gold Rush, a lighthouse appeared here, and a little later, the construction of a fort began to protect the 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 was made from here - a perfect security system and natural isolation by the stormy waters of the 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. From pier number 33, “motorboats” with tourists regularly leave for the island, at least 15 departures every half hour per day. 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 ascent leads to the prison fort, and picturesque gardens full of flowering plants are located around. From the military period of history, Alcatraz inherited impressive cannons, as well as a considerable number of museum exhibits - binoculars, military uniforms, household items of the inhabitants of the fort, etc. kitchen, dining room and hall for Sunday masses, as well as a vast courtyard. In the Alcatraz Museum you can see the original keys with the letter "A", whistles and weapons of the guards, handcuffs and shackles, photographs, daily routines, objects of creativity of prisoners and materials on failed escapes, for example, fake heads molded 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 - 39.90 USD for adults and 24.40 USD for children. The way to Alcatraz takes about 15 minutes, it is worth taking 2-2.5 hours to see 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.