Hey there! The name "Alcatraz" has an intriguing history and meaning behind it before the island in San Francisco Bay became home to the infamous federal prison. According to the National Park Service, the original Spanish name was "La Isla de los Alcatraces," meaning "Island of the Pelicans," which was inspired by the island‘s large population of brown pelicans. Over time, the name was Anglicized to Alcatraz. While the exact meaning is still debated, Alcatraz is usually defined as meaning "pelican" or "strange bird."
Let me walk you through a more detailed history of Alcatraz Island first, before we dive into its years as a notorious prison.
A Brief History of Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz has a fascinating history beyond just being a prison site. Here‘s a timeline to give you an idea of the island‘s varied past:
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1775 – Spanish explorers are the first Europeans to document the island, which they name "La Isla de los Alcatraces." In their language, alcatraces means "pelicans." Makes sense, since a lot of brown pelicans nested there!
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1847 – After California becomes part of the United States, the island is surveyed and reserved for military use. The US government recognizes its strategic location.
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1850 – President Millard Fillmore orders Alcatraz to be set aside specifically as a United States military reservation and fortifications start being built.
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1859 – More substantial barracks, battlements, and cannons are constructed. Alcatraz serves as a military prison for Confederate sympathizers and civilians accused of treason during the Civil War. It played an important role as a deterrent for the West Coast.
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1868 – A more advanced fort with upgraded gun batteries is built to better protect San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz remains an active army prison through the late 1800s.
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1907 – A major reconstruction of the fortifications produces the island‘s iconic lighthouse and main cellhouse building. The West Coast‘s first lighthouse had previously existed on the island from 1854-1876 before being torn down.
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1934 – Alcatraz is re-fortified with more security, fences, and guard towers, becoming a maximum high-security federal prison which operated until 1963.
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1969 – Native American activists occupy the island and protest for 19 months, demanding it become a Native American cultural center and school. A symbolic act to claim indigenous lands, but it failed and ended in 1971.
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1972 – Alcatraz becomes part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is opened for public tours, now operated by the National Park Service. That brings us to today!
So as you can see, it had a rich history long before becoming a prison – from a Spanish name inspired by pelicans, an important 19th century frontier military fort, the first West Coast lighthouse, and even a role in the Civil War. The layered history is what makes it so fascinating!
Why Alcatraz Was Built and Operated as a Prison
Clearly, Alcatraz Island‘s geography makes it very isolated and challenging to escape from. That natural isolation is exactly why it appealed to the Bureau of Prisons:
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Its location in the middle of San Francisco Bay meant prisoners couldn‘t just run off the grounds or tunnel underneath walls to freedom. The 1.25 mile distance from shore was a natural deterrent.
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The cold, rough waters and strong currents made swimming escape from "The Rock" nearly impossible. Even experienced swimmers would struggle to make that journey.
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Boats and aircraft were also unable to reach the island easily thanks to the watchful eyes of prison guards.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Alcatraz was intended for prisoners who caused trouble at other federal prisons or had a history of escapes. Alcatraz was promoted as America‘s strongest, most secure prison that was escape-proof and isolated "like a ship at sea."
They wanted to send a message to infamous gangsters like Al Capone that the party was over once they arrived on "The Rock." Strict rules, routine, and sanctions like solitary confinement made Alcatraz one of the toughest prisons to carry out a sentence in.
Life Inside Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
So what was day-to-day life actually like in this notorious prison out in the bay? Well, to put it mildly, the experience wasn‘t very pleasant or comfortable for the inmates housed there from 1934 to 1963.
Some quick facts about the prison population:
- The average number of prisoners was around 260 men.
- The most at one time was 302 inmates in March 1937.
- There were never any female prisoners at Alcatraz.
Now, for their daily life…
The prisoners were kept in line by the strict routine and surveillance by guards. Here are some facts about the conditions:
- Cells were small at 5 feet by 9 feet in size, with toilets, sinks, and bunks beds. However, prisoners had no privacy using the bathroom.
- Hot showers were permitted just once a week.
- Noise and talking were prohibited at certain times.
- Daily work duties included jobs like doing laundry, kitchen work, and maintaining the grounds.
- Educational classes were offered through correspondence.
- Inmates had access to a library and could play instruments sometimes.
- The dining hall served meals in 20 minutes using metal trays. Talking wasn‘t allowed.
- The recreation yard was the only place for fresh air and exercise.
Violence wasn‘t uncommon between inmates, despite the guards‘ presence:
- Stabbings and attacks in the cellblocks, yard, and work areas occurred periodically.
- However, there were never any riots at Alcatraz itself during its history.
- 5 prisoners were killed by other inmates while doing time there.
So in summary, while Alcatraz didn‘t have horrific dungeon-like conditions, life there was very sparse, strict, monotonous, and tense for its inmates known as "the worst of the worst." The rigid rules and isolation got to many of them.
Escape Attempts from "The Rock"
As mentioned earlier, the purpose of Alcatraz was to be America‘s most inescapable prison. So did anyone ever successfully break out of there?
In the 29 years Alcatraz was a federal prison, there were 14 known escape attempts involving 36 inmates total. Most of them were quickly stopped or failed, proving Alcatraz‘s reputation was well deserved:
- 6 prisoners were shot and killed, either during their escape attempt or while being recaptured.
- 5 inmates drowned in the bay while trying to flee.
- 2 escapees were found by guards hiding on the island grounds.
Of the handful who actually managed to get off the island itself, most didn‘t stay free for long:
- Of the 7 inmates who made it off Alcatraz‘s shores, 5 were captured within hours or days after reaching land.
- Joseph Bowers was at large for over 2 weeks before being caught.
- John Giles was accidentally freed after hiding in a prison truck‘s cargo area. He turned himself in after several years of freedom.
However, there is one group of escaped prisoners whose fate is still a mystery today…
The most famous escape attempt was the June 1962 plot involving inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Here‘s how they managed it:
- Over 6 months they dug through the ventilation grills in their cells using spoons, making holes in the walls.
- They created realistic dummy heads with papier-mâché and real human hair, fooling guards during night bed checks.
- They climbed through the holes behind the vents and up to the roof, sliding down a pipe to the ground.
- On dinghies made with raincoats, they paddled off the island and toward the mainland.
Remarkably, no trace of them has ever been found despite an extensive manhunt and investigation. The FBI believes they likely drowned in the bay‘s frigid waters or succumbed to hypothermia. However, their escape remains an open case with speculation that any of the men could still be alive today in their 80s. It‘s a fascinating legend!
Why Alcatraz Prison Closed in 1963
If Alcatraz seemed like such an ideal, escape-proof prison location, why exactly did it close down in 1963?
There were a few key factors in the decision:
- Costs: Maintaining the aging facilities and infrastructure was incredibly expensive given its isolated island location. Supply transport alone cost a fortune, not to mention upkeep, repairs and enhancements.
- Obsolescence: Newer, more modern prison designs were emerging, making Alcatraz seem outdated despite its upgrades over the years. Prison reformers saw it as too draconian.
- Pollution: Its reliance on diesel generators and supply ships created pollution risks in the bay that alarmed environmentalists.
- Public opinion: Some thought it was too inhumane and needed to shut down. Alcatraz had developed a notorious reputation.
Estimates said $3-5 million was needed just for restoration work, and the prison budget couldn‘t justify it. So in March 1963, Alcatraz closed after 29 years as a federal prison. The last 27 inmates were transferred out, and an era ended.
Many of the buildings fell into disrepair over the following years as the island sat mostly abandoned. America‘s most famous lockup was now an eerie ghost town.
After the Federal Prison Era
Even after the prison closed, Alcatraz continued making headlines and sparking controversy.
In November 1969, a group of Native American activists occupied the island, hoping to claim it as reparation for broken treaties. Over 75 men, women and children were involved in the protest which lasted until June 1971:
- They proclaimed the island as belonging to "Indians of All Tribes" and demanded it become a Native American education and cultural center.
- Public support for their cause grew initially but faded as the occupation stretched on.
- After 18 months, the protest eventually collapsed and federal law enforcement removed the last holdouts.
Though unsuccessful, the occupation brought national awareness to Native issues and rights. It was a major event in the "Red Power" movement of activism.
In 1972, control of Alcatraz was given to the National Park Service, becoming part of the new Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It was opened to tours that same year, allowing the now-decaying but still infamous prison to become a tourist attraction and national park site.
Today, over 1.4 million visitors take the ferry ride to Alcatraz annually to walk the cell blocks and learn about its history on the popular audio tour. More than 50 years after closing, the mystery and legacy of America‘s most notorious prison island continues to captivate people!
So that‘s the full story on Alcatraz‘s layered history and how it got its name from Spanish explorers who saw a lot of pelicans there! Let me know if you have any other questions on this fascinating island. It‘s a place every American history buff should try to visit at least once!
