Alcatraz saw eight murders, five suicides, and 15 natural deaths, as well as 36 escape attempts. None, however, have successfully escaped. Many argue that three men did, in fact, in July 1962.
There were reports of inmates losing their minds while imprisoned in Alcatraz; many were locked in their cells 24 hours a day, and there was supposedly a strict rule on silence. It created intense feelings of isolation and loneliness that lead some prisoners to suicide.
Prison Guard Harold P. Stites was shot and killed (by friendly fire) during the rescue attempt while Prison Guard William A. Miller died of his injuries the following day in the cell. In addition to the deaths of those two, 14 other prison guards were wounded in the battle.
Eventually, they killed the three remaining men, Cretzer, Hubbard and Coy, the ringleader. Two prison guards were killed in the battle, with 14 more wounded. Two of the prisoners who gave up after the lock to the yard door was broken, Shockley and Thompson, were executed in a gas chamber for their role in the attempt.
Frank Lucas Bolt. Little has been documented about Alcatraz's LGBTQ+ prisoners, but gay men did play a role in the infamous prison. In fact, it was a queer man, Frank Lucas Bolt, who served as the prison's first official inmate.
Here's the catch, though: No one knows what happened to the escapees. When pieces of the raft and paddles washed up near the island, many assumed that the men were dead. Alcatraz officials have suggested they drowned or died of hypothermia. Read more Alcatraz stories here.
Cell Block D was dubbed "The Hole" since the cells were composed of only a hole to be used as a toilet. Inmates were poorly fed while in The Hole, beaten often, and experienced sensory deprivation for days on end. Prisoners would be force-fed during hunger strikes and cells were a mere five feet by nine feet.
Clarence Victor Carnes (January 14, 1927 – October 3, 1988), known as The Choctaw Kid, was a Choctaw man best known as the youngest inmate incarcerated at Alcatraz and for his participation in the bloody escape attempt known as the "Battle of Alcatraz".
Frank Morris, John Anglin, and his brother, Clarence Anglin have never been located since escaping the facility — which was at some point home to criminals like Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Robert Stroud.
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United States.
Due to the security of the prison facility itself, the distance from shore, cold water, and strong currents, few dared to attempt to escape. during which the prison housed about 1,500 total prisoners, only 14 total escape attempts were made.
The secret control room is located in Alcatraz's secret tunnels beneath the lighthouse. It is accessed by using the Warden's three keys on a large, metal door. Inside the room are large consoles of old computers and a map of the continental United States.
But what few people realize is that during the past 200 years, Alcatraz was not only home to criminals―it was home to many children, too! Over the years, the island has been home to the children of Native Americans, lighthouse keepers, military soldiers, and prison guards.
Bill Baker is part of that living history. He was Alcatraz prisoner number 1259. He is now 89 years old and one of the last surviving former inmates of Alcatraz.
Minors Visiting Alcatraz
Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to visit Alcatraz Island unless accompanied by an adult, 21 years of age or older. Minors must be supervised at all times while visiting Alcatraz Island, Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing and while onboard Alcatraz City Cruises vessels.
Known as the “Rock,” Alcatraz developed a reputation for segregating America's incorrigibles from the rest of the population. Sometimes, rules dictated that prisoners couldn't even speak to one another.
During the nineteen months and nine days of occupation by the American Indians, several buildings at Alcatraz were damaged or destroyed by fire, including the lighthouse keeper's home, the warden's home, the Officers' Club, the recreation hall, and the Coast Guard quarters. The origin of the fires is disputed.
And for 29 years, it was the most secure federal prison in the country -- surrounded by the cold, rough waters of the Pacific. But brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris disappeared into the night and have never been found. The men have become folklore -- fueled by Hollywood and popular shows.
In 1959 he was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Missouri, where he would die that year. Although Alcatraz may have closed as a prison many decades ago, there are still former Alcatraz inmates alive today - including convited murderer and Irish American mafia boss James "Whitey" Bulger.
Water temperatures for Alcatraz swims are usually in the mid-50's to mid-60's. For comparison, pools used for competitive swimming are between 77 and 82 degrees (Fahrenheit).
Al Capone died of cardiac arrest in 1947, but his decline began earlier. After his transfer to Alcatraz prison, his mental and physical condition deteriorated from paresis (a late stage of syphilis). He was released in November 1939 and was sent to a Baltimore mental hospital before he retired to his Florida estate.
Alphonse "Scarface" Capone.
A rocky island north of San Francisco, California, Alcatraz was once the site of a notorious maximum-security prison. The island occupies an area of 22 acres (9 hectares) and is located 1.5 miles (2 kilometers) offshore in San Francisco Bay. Both the island and the prison are known by the nickname “The Rock.”
The 1962 escape is probably the most famous prison break in American history, and the three men involved have never been located, dead or alive.