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June 23, 1976 [2] Designated NHLD. January 17, 1986 [3] Alcatraz Island (/ ˈælkəˌtræz /) is a small island 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. [1] The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison.
Jan 12, 2024 · Alcatraz Island was a prison, a fort, and a Native American occupation site. Learn about its history, exhibits, and virtual tours.
Apr 27, 2021 · Check out Fees & Passes to find out what park fees you should expect and where during your visit. Check out Permit & Reservation if you are looking for weddings, picnics, filming, athletic events, festivals, photography, or even camping within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Learn about the history and features of Alcatraz, a former maximum security prison on an island in San Francisco Bay. Find out how it was built, operated, closed, and became a museum and a Native American occupation site.
- 3 min
- Early Years as a Military Prison. In 1775, Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala (1745-97) mapped and named rugged Alcatraz Island, christening it La Isla de los Alcatraces, or Island of the Pelicans, due to its large population of sea birds.
- Doing Time as a Federal Prison: 1934-63. In 1933, the Army relinquished Alcatraz to the U.S. Justice Department, which wanted a federal prison that could house a criminal population too difficult or dangerous to be handled by other U.S. penitentiaries.
- Famous Inmates. Among those who did time at The Rock was the notorious Prohibition-era gangster Al “Scarface” Capone, who spent four-and-a-half years there during the 1930s.
- Escape Attempts from Alcatraz. Over the years, there were 14 known attempts to escape from Alcatraz, involving 36 inmates. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that of these would-be escapees, 23 were captured, six were shot and killed during their attempted getaways, two drowned and five went missing and were presumed drowned.
Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary that housed famous convicts such as Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Now, it is a national park and a popular attraction with tours, exhibits and audio guides.
Sep 2, 2024 · Alcatraz Island is a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, California, that was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Learn about its history, famous prisoners, escape attempts, Native American occupation, and current status as a tourist attraction.
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The most venerable and polished of the tour-and-activity sites. - BBC
