A Historic Penitentiary on an Island
Alcatraz Prison, located on a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, was originally built as a military fort and later transformed into a federal prison in 1934. This iconic maximum-security facility, surrounded by cold waters teeming with great white sharks, housed some of the most notorious mobsters, including Al Capone.
Al Capone and Other Mobsters
Al Capone, a famous American gangster, was imprisoned at Alcatraz for alcohol smuggling and tax evasion during the Prohibition era (1920-1933). The prison became a symbol of confinement for high-profile criminals before becoming a popular tourist attraction in the 1970s.
The Spectacular Escape
In 1962, three prisoners, including Frank Morris, orchestrated an extraordinary escape from Alcatraz. This daring incident inspired a book in 1963, “The Alcatraz Escape” by J. Campbell Bruce, and later a movie in 1979 titled “Escape from Alcatraz,” starring Clint Eastwood.
High Operational Costs
Due to its remote location, Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than other federal prisons. The high costs were attributed to transporting food and 3.8 million liters of potable water weekly, as the island lacked a freshwater source.
Furthermore, an estimated $3 to $5 million was spent on restoration and maintenance of the facility during its 29 years of operation.
The average inmate population at Alcatraz was between 260 and 275, constituting less than 1% of the total federal prison population.
Over a Million Visitors Annually
Designated as a national park in 1972, Alcatraz captivates visitors worldwide with its unique location and dark history. Each year, more than a million tourists flock to the island to explore the former federal prison and its 378 cells.
Native American Activism
In 1969, a group of Native American activists from various tribes across the United States, known as “Indians of All Tribes,” occupied Alcatraz to protest the U.S. government’s deportation policies and the overall situation of Native Americans.
The occupation lasted 19 months until then-President Richard Nixon ordered the deployment of FBI agents and special forces to remove the protesters in 1971.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was Al Capone? Al Capone was a notorious American gangster who was imprisoned at Alcatraz for alcohol smuggling and tax evasion during the Prohibition era.
- Why was Alcatraz prison so expensive to operate? The remote location of Alcatraz led to high operational costs, including transporting food and water since the island lacked a freshwater source.
- What inspired the book and movie “Escape from Alcatraz”? The spectacular escape of three prisoners, including Frank Morris, in 1962 inspired both the 1963 book and the 1979 movie.
- What was the purpose of the Native American occupation of Alcatraz? In 1969, activists from various tribes occupied Alcatraz to protest U.S. deportation policies and the overall situation of Native Americans.
