Situated in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay, the small but infamous Alcatraz Island has a long and captivating history.
Best known for the nearly three decades it served as a federal penitentiary housing some of America‘s most notorious lawbreakers,
"The Rock" as it was known actually had a much longer tenure as a military prison and fortification dating back to the 1850s.
Let‘s dive into the history timeline of this fascinating island that is now one of San Francisco‘s most popular tourist destinations.
Early Years as a Military Outpost
The island was first named "La Isla de los Alcatraces," meaning "Island of the Pelicans," by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de
Ayala when he charted San Francisco Bay in 1775. It wouldn‘t have a permanent human presence until the 1850s, when the U.S. Army
took control and established a fortress called Fort Alcatraz. In the following decade, Alcatraz would begin serving as a military
prison during the Civil War, housing Confederate sympathizers, privateers, and POWs.
For the remainder of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, Alcatraz continued expanding its capacity as a military
detention facility. It held Native American prisoners, conscientious objectors during World War I, and unruly soldiers. Despite
multiple building projects, the aging structures were falling into disrepair by the late 1920s. This led the U.S. Department of
Justice to make plans to convert the island into a federal penitentiary.
America‘s Most Infamous Prison
Following renovations and new construction, the maximum-security Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary opened on January 1, 1934. Over the
next 29 years, "Uncle Sam‘s Devil‘s Island" housed some of the most notorious criminals of the era, including gangsters Al "Scarface"
Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Alvin "Creepy Karpis" Karpowicz. The island‘s isolated location made it ideal for securely detaining
dangerous, high-profile felons.
Despite the prison‘s reputation as inescapable, there were 14 escape attempts by 36 prisoners during its history. Of these, 23 were recaptured,
6 were shot and killed, 2 drowned, and 5 (including the famed June 1962 escape by Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin) are missing
and presumed drowned. To this day, no one is known to have successfully escaped from Alcatraz, although the FBI case file for the Morris/Anglin
escape remains open.
Closure and Cultural Legacy
Alcatraz Island‘s time as a federal penitentiary came to an end in 1963. The prison‘s isolated location made it expensive to operate, with supplies
needing to be shipped in and structures deteriorating from exposure to the salty sea air. The island was essentially abandoned until 1969, when a group
of Native American activists occupied Alcatraz and claimed it by right of discovery. The 19-month occupation led to policy changes supporting Native
American self-determination rights.
In 1972, Alcatraz Island became part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is now operated by the National Park Service as a
museum and tourist attraction, drawing over 1.5 million visitors each year. Guests can tour the remnants of the military fort and prison while learning about
the many layers of the island‘s history. Alcatraz has also served as a site for special events and filmings over the years. With its rich history and enduring
mystique, the story of Alcatraz Island continues to fascinate people nearly 250 years after it was first named by Spanish explorers.
