History of Alcatraz Prison. The legendary Alcatraz prison and its history How many years has Alcatraz been a prison

Just 2.5 km from San Francisco there is a famous landmark of America - the famous Alcatraz prison, known to everyone from many films, TV series and games. Prison Rock, as it is sometimes called, is located on a small rocky island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. The island where Alcatraz is located belongs to the state of California and belongs to the Golden Gate National Park. Throughout its history, the island has been used as a fort, a prison, and most recently a museum. You can get to the museum island using a special ferry from San Francisco. About a million tourists visit Alcatraz Island every year.

The history of Alcatraz prison dates back to the advent of the Gold Rush in California in 1848. In just three years, San Francisco's population increased from 500 to 35,000 people. Thousands of ships arrived in the bay. There was a need for a lighthouse that would help ships navigate in heavy fog. In 1853, a lighthouse was built on Alcatraz Island, the first in the entire western United States. But after 56 years it was dismantled. A new lighthouse was built in its place in 1909. After 54 years, the lighthouse was modernized, making it capable of automatic operation without requiring 24-hour maintenance.

Alcatraz in 1895

Fort

The harbor area of ​​the Californian coast was not sufficiently protected from external invasion. Therefore, there was a need to protect the bay. In 1850, US President Millard Fillmore ordered the construction of a defensive fort on Alcatraz Island. In December 1859, construction of the fortress was completed. On the territory of which there were about 110 guns. At the height of the Civil War (1861-1865), the military fort was considered the largest on the west side of the Mississippi River.

Cannons on Alcatraz Island with 15 inch balls, 1868

Military prison

Beginning in 1861, the fortress on the island was also used as a military prison. This was facilitated by the favorable location of the mainland in the bay (more than 2 km from civilization), which was washed by icy water and had strong sea currents. Which created a powerful isolation from the outside world. Therefore, it was an ideal place to keep prisoners of war. The number of prisoners increased greatly during the Spanish-American War in 1898. From 25 to 450 people. The American prison Alcatraz became known for its severity and was considered the first long-term military prison. Disciplinary measures in prison could take the form of hard work, constant wearing of a heavy chain, or transfer to a special solitary confinement cell, which was considered the most severe punishment. The isolation room was practically without light, except for the cracks through which food was supplied, essentially it was bread and water. The temperature in the room was quite cold, but a blanket was only provided at night. All types of contact were prohibited. Therefore, staying in such a room seemed eternal, and some could not stand it and went crazy.

Prisoners of war at Alcatraz, 1902

The Alcatraz prison began to receive more and more civilian prisoners temporarily transferred from other places. Especially after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, when thousands of houses were destroyed and heavy looting began in the city.

Over time, discipline in the military prison decreased. For example, some prisoners were allowed to perform various chores for families living on the island. In the late 20s, a baseball field was even built. Various boxing competitions were held, which even attracted civilians from San Francisco. But in the end, the military authorities decided to completely abandon the prison due to the high costs of its maintenance. Therefore, in 1934 the prison was officially closed.

Federal maximum security prison

In the late 20s and early 30s, the United States experienced the Great Depression, accompanied by riots and organized crime. There was a war over the sphere of influence between various mafia families and gangs. And, as a rule, ordinary citizens and police officers became victims. Officials received bribes, turning a blind eye to lawlessness, and power in the cities essentially belonged to gangsters.

For this reason, the US authorities reopened Alcatraz prison in 1934, but at the same time completely rebuilt the buildings on the island. So the wooden bars and bars were replaced with steel ones. Electricity was installed in each cell. All extra tunnels were walled up. Weapons rooms for the guards were built in the prison building. The most popular place, namely the prison canteen, was equipped with special tanks with tear gas. After all, it was in this room that fights and various showdowns often broke out. Almost all doors had electric sensors. The best security specialists (Robert Burge and others) were involved in the project. And James A. Johnston, known as the “Chief of the Golden Rule,” was also appointed. He was distinguished by his strict principles and reformist approach to prisoners. Thus, Alcatraz prison became a nightmare for the entire criminal world and became the basis for various rumors and myths.

Prison cells in Alcatraz

Alcatraz prisoners and escape attempts

The most violent prisoners from other prisons were transferred to Alcatraz. It was impossible to get there directly. Only for some gangsters were exceptions made, among which were: Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Alcatraz prisoners lived in separate cells. They had minimal privileges to receive medical care, water, food, and clothing. They were forbidden to have any personal belongings or read newspapers. The Alcatraz prisoner had to earn the opportunity to communicate with visitors, visit the library and write letters. Moreover, all privileges were revoked at the slightest violation of the rules of conduct in prison.

A typical day started early in the morning at 6:30. 25 minutes were given to clean the cell, then roll call followed. And exactly at 6:55 everyone headed to the dining room. After a 20-minute breakfast, prison work began. This daily rhythm in prison did not change for several years.

Escape attempts from Alcatraz prison

As stated earlier, escaping from Alcatraz prison was practically impossible. But nevertheless, in history there were a couple of attempts to escape from the strictest American prison at that time. There is no official confirmation of a successful escape from prison. But nevertheless, it was not possible to find five prisoners who went missing. A total of 34 prisoners tried to escape from the island. Of these, two drowned, seven were shot, five went missing, the rest were intercepted and returned. The most famous escape attempts were made in 1946 (Battle of Alcatraz) and 1962 (Escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers).

Closing of Alcatraz prison

Alcatraz prison was closed on March 21, 1963. The reason was that the costs of maintaining the prison were too high. It was necessary to import food, clothing, etc. from the mainland. Periodically make repairs, which were estimated at 3-5 million dollars. That's why Alcatraz was closed.

Tour of Alcatraz video

While the Vietnam War was going on and the hippie movement was booming, a couple of Indian tribes moved to live on the island of Alcatraz. According to the law on free movement, they were allowed to do this, but by a court decision in 1971 they were forced to leave Alcatraz. At the same time, leaving behind a lot of destruction and garbage. Many buildings were damaged due to frequent fires, and most of the walls were painted with inscriptions that remain to this day.

In 1971, Alcatraz was annexed to Golden Gate Park, making it a museum complex. And in 1973, the first tourists visited it.

The escape plan had been prepared for months, was carefully thought out, and was perfect. An ordinary evening on June 11, 1962. Everything seemed ordinary. However, for the three prisoners, things were different. Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin decide to do the impossible - to escape from the most secure prison in the United States of America. This prison-fortress rises in San Francisco Bay, two kilometers from the Western American metropolis. She instilled fear in even the toughest criminals. Whoever violated public order went to prison, whoever violated the rules of the prison ended up in Alcatraz. Her nickname is "The Rock". The king of the underworld, Al Capone, sat here. This is the most famous prison in the world. Shall we take a look inside?

Today, more than 50 years later, all the details of the legendary escape are known. The main question remains open: were the three prisoners really able to reach land that night? However, let's talk about everything in order.

In the 60s, Alcatraz prison was considered the last refuge in the criminal world. This maximum security prison was created in order to collect all the "rotten eggs" in one basket. Frank Lee Morris (prisoner AZ 1441), as well as his two accomplices John and Clarence Anglin, are professional criminals and true escape artists. From the very first days of their stay in "The Rock" they began to look for options and think through an unthinkable escape plan.

The main obstacle to freedom was, of course, the icy water in San Francisco Bay. The situation was further aggravated by the strong current. The distance from the island to the Californian metropolis is one and a half miles (2.4 kilometers).

In addition, it was necessary to get out of the main building of the prison and overcome a fence with barbed wire unnoticed. But first we had to get out of the cells.

At first glance, the problem was unsolvable. Inside, there were three prisoners per guard, which was four times more than in a regular regular prison of that time. Constant round-the-clock rounds made the task extremely difficult. Undermining is impossible, and exiting through the grate is also impossible. However, Frank Morris (with a high IQ) and his accomplices found a way out.

Having discovered that the concrete walls of the main building of the old building were no longer so strong, they decided to make their way through the hole in the ventilation grilles, measuring 13 by 24 cm. In order to widen the hole, the escape artists worked diligently at night with sharpened spoons. To hide the traces of night work, they made mock-ups of gratings that they placed against the wall. In addition, stacks of magazines, an accordion and other large items were used.

To prevent the escape from being noticed until the morning, the prisoners created scarecrows from papier-mâché. Hair was taken out from the hairdresser's, paints could be obtained for painting.

Behind the back wall of the chambers there is a technical tract-shaft where the pipes go.

On the night of the escape, the prisoners climbed to the top floor of the building. There, through the ventilation hatch, which was opened using a homemade drill, they got onto the roof.

We went down through the drainpipes.

For several months, the future fugitives worked on life jackets and an inflatable raft. They made them from rain jackets and glue. They managed to obtain all the tools and materials through contacts with prisoners in the kitchen, workshops, etc.

Everything went perfectly and according to plan. Apart from the fact that initially four were planning to escape, but one of the prisoners (Eiler West) was unable to get out of the cell in time. Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin, once at the shore, inflated the raft with a converted accordion and sailed away.

No one has ever seen them again and they are considered missing. It was not possible to catch or locate the bodies. Today, half a century later, they continue to be searched for. In 1997, the FBI turned the US case over to the Marshals. In the United States, they search for escaped criminals and return more than 100 thousand people to prison every year.

Did the prisoners manage to swim across the San Francisco Bay? We found one oar, two life jackets and a rubber bag with photographs, but where is the raft? The bodies were not found. If they managed to get to earth, why didn't professional criminals take up the old case? These and many other questions still remain open.

Less than 12 months after this (successful) escape, the federal prison was closed.

There were other escape attempts, but they were all unsuccessful and ended in failure.

A few words about prison everyday life.

The main principle in working with prisoners was depersonalization. Everyone became equal, be it a bank robber, a murderer, the most prominent representative of US organized crime, Al Capone, or the famous American gangster George Kelly Barnes (“Machine Gun Kelly”). This was not a penal colony. The main thing was not resocialization, but mental disruption.

Sometimes the noise of the big city reaching the island and the stunning view of San Francisco put even more pressure on the prisoners. Everyone dreamed of escape. There were cases of riots and hostage-taking of prison guards.

You could shave once a week, get a haircut once a month.

In the canteen they usually served the same thing, namely pasta.

In the gift shop you can now buy mugs that are similar in shape and type to the original.

There were rooms where prisoners worked.

There was a library.

You could play a musical instrument one day a week.

Paint.

Even knitting (men's prison).

The prisoners played chess/checkers. They placed half a field in their cell and, talking with their cell neighbors, made moves.

It was possible to communicate with distant cameras through a “toilet” connection. When the water drained from both negotiators, the pipe was free for some time.

Anyone who violated the order was subject to a number of special measures. The mere mention of “Block D” terrified and frightened the prisoners.

Long-term detention cells were located there. You could go for a walk once a week.

And also the so-called “holes”. Like punishment cells - a prison within a prison.

There was practically no light in the "holes" and no heating. Prisoners were kept there for a long time. In order not to go crazy, one of the prisoners (according to his stories) tore off a button, threw it up, made several turns, and in the dark blindly began to look for it on the floor with his hands. And so again and again until my hands were washed away and I could no longer feel them. In one of the 6 special cells there was no light at all and prisoners were placed there only in their underwear.

There were also ultra-long-term isolation cells. Prisoners (serial killers, etc.) spent years in such solitary confinement and had no “exit to the world.”

Meeting room rules.

In the premises of the guards and prison administration.

More photos from the buildings:

More photos of the island:

In a nutshell, what was on the island before the maximum security prison, built in 1933. Originally there was a lighthouse on the island. During the Gold Rush in the mid-nineteenth century, San Francisco Bay became crowded with shipping. There was a need to protect the bay, so a fort with more than a hundred guns was built here.

Later, a military prison was created on the island.

The maximum security federal prison closed in 1963. At the end of the 60s, the island was occupied by Indians, in accordance with the law on the possibility of their free resettlement.

Later everyone was dispersed.

Since 1971, Alcatraz has been a museum complex and was opened to tourists.

Alcatraz has often appeared and appears in films. The most famous prisoners at different times were Clint Eastwood (Escape from Alcatraz, 1979) and Sean Connery (The Rock, 1996).

This is such an interesting place.

Alcatraz prison was the country's first military prison, where such famous criminals as Al Capone were kept under the strictest security. The prison is located on a 5-hectare cliff, and the icy waters of the 2.5 km wide strait with dangerous currents, sharks and sewage separate Alcatraz from the coast of San Francisco.

Alcatraz prison: photo, where it is located

In 1775, the Spaniard Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first to enter San Francisco Bay. His team mapped the bay and gave the name La Isla de los Alcatraces to one of the three islands, now known as Yerba Buena. It is widely believed that the name could mean "Pelican Island", due to the abundance of these birds on the island. However, according to reports from ornithologists, there are no colonies of pelicans or gannets, either on the island or nearby, but there are many different species of cormorants and other large waterfowl.

In 1828, the English geographer Captain Frederic William Beechey mistakenly transferred the name of the island from Spanish maps to the neighboring one, currently known as the site of the famous prison, under the name Island Alcatrazes. In 1851, the US Coast Guard surveyor shortened the name to Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Prison: History

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 brought thousands of ships into the San Francisco Bay, creating an urgent need for a lighthouse. The first lighthouse was installed and launched on Alcatraz in the summer of 1853. In 1856, a bell was installed at the lighthouse, which was used in the fog.

In 1909, during the construction of the prison, after 56 years of use, the first Alcatraz lighthouse was dismantled. The second lighthouse was installed next to the prison building on December 1, 1909. And in 1963, the lighthouse was modified and made automatic and autonomous, and it no longer required round-the-clock maintenance.

Alcatraz Fort and Military Prison

As a result of the gold rush, there was a need to protect the bay. In 1850, by order of the President of the United States, they began to build a fort on the island, where more than 110 long-range guns were installed. The fort was subsequently used to house prisoners. In 1909, the army demolished it, leaving only the foundation, and by 1912 a new building was built for prisoners.

The location in the middle of a bay with icy water and strong sea currents ensured the island's natural isolation. Due to this, it soon began to be considered by the US Army as an ideal place to hold prisoners of war. In 1861, the first Civil War prisoners from various states began arriving on the island, and in 1898, as a result of the Spanish-American War, the number of prisoners of war increased from 26 to more than 450. In 1906, after the San Francisco earthquake destroyed much of the city, hundreds of civilian prisoners were moved to the island for safety reasons. A large prison building was built in 1912, and by 1920 the three-story structure was almost completely filled with prisoners.

Alcatraz was the Army's first long-term prison and began to gain a reputation for being harsh on offenders, who faced harsh disciplinary measures. The punishment could be assignment to hard work, placement in solitary confinement with a limited ration of bread and water, and the list was not limited to this. The average age of imprisoned military personnel was 24 years, and most were serving short sentences for desertion or less serious offenses. There were also those who served long sentences for disobedience to commanders, physical violence, theft or murder.

An interesting element of the military order was the prohibition of being in the cells during the day, except in special cases of forced confinement. High-ranking military prisoners could move freely throughout the prison, with the exception of the guard rooms located on a higher level.

Despite the harsh disciplinary measures applied to criminals, the prison regime was not strict. Many prisoners performed household chores for the families living on the island, and a select few were sometimes trusted to look after the children. Some took advantage of the vulnerability of the prison security organization to escape. Despite all efforts, most of the fugitives were unable to reach the shore and had to return back to be rescued from the icy water. Those who did not return died from hypothermia.

Over the decades, prison rules have become even softer. In the late 1920s, prisoners were allowed to build a baseball field and even wear their own baseball uniforms. The army command organized boxing competitions between prisoners, held on Friday evenings. The fights were very popular, with civilians from San Francisco often traveling to Alcatraz just to watch them.

Due to the high maintenance costs associated with the location, the Department of Defense decided to close this famous prison in 1934 and it was taken over by the Department of Justice.

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

During the Great Depression (late 1920s to mid-1930s), crime rates increased greatly and the era of organized crime began. Large mafia families and individual gangs waged a war for spheres of influence, the victims of which were often civilians and law enforcement officials. Gangsters controlled power in the cities, many officials received bribes and turned a blind eye to the crimes that were happening.

In response to the crimes of the gangsters, the government decided to reopen Alcatraz, but as a federal prison. Alcatraz prison satisfied the basic requirements: to place dangerous criminals far from society and to frighten the remaining criminals who were still at large. Federal Prisons Commissioner Sanford Bates and Attorney General Homer Cummings initiated the prison renovation project. For this, Robert Burge, at that time one of the best experts in the field of security, was invited. He was supposed to redesign the prison. During the reconstruction, only the foundation was left untouched, and the building itself was completely rebuilt.

In April 1934, the military prison received a new face and a new direction. Before the reconstruction, the bars and bars were wooden - they were replaced with steel ones. Electricity was installed in each cell, and all service tunnels were walled up to prevent prisoners from entering them for shelter and further escape. Along the perimeter of the prison building, above the cells, special weapon galleries were placed, which allowed the guards to stand watch while protected by steel bars.

The prison canteen, as the most vulnerable place for fights and brawls, was equipped with tear gas containers, which were located in the ceiling and controlled remotely. Security towers were placed around the perimeter of the island in the most strategic places. The doors were equipped with electrical sensors. The prison block contained a total of 600 cells and was divided into blocks B, C and D, whereas before reconstruction the prison population never exceeded 300 prisoners. The introduction of new security measures, along with the cold waters of San Francisco Bay, created a reliable barrier for even the most incorrigible criminals.

Before Alcatraz, Johnston was director of San Quentin Prison, where he introduced several successful educational programs that benefited the majority of prisoners. At the same time, Johnston was a supporter of strict discipline. His rules were the strictest in the correctional system, and his punishments the most severe. Johnston had been present at San Quentin hangings more than once and knew how to deal with the most incorrigible criminals.

Alcatraz and prison life

The courts did not sentence people to imprisonment in Alcatraz; especially “distinguished” prisoners from other prisons were usually transferred there. It was impossible to voluntarily choose Alcatraz to serve a prison sentence. Although exceptions were made for some gangsters, including Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly (in those years “public enemy No. 1”) and others.

The rules at Alcatraz have changed dramatically. Now each prisoner had only his own cell and minimal privileges to receive food, water, clothing, medical and dental care. Prisoners at Alcatraz were not allowed to have any personal belongings. To receive privileges to communicate with visitors, visit the prison library and write, the prisoner had to earn it through work and impeccable behavior. At the same time, prisoners with bad behavior were not allowed to work in prison. For the slightest offense, all privileges were revoked. All media were prohibited in Alcatraz, including reading newspapers. All letters, as in any other prison, were corrected by a prison official.

Federal prison governors had the right to transfer any offending prisoner to Alcatraz. Despite popular belief, Alcatraz did not only house gangsters and especially dangerous criminals. Alcatraz was filled from other prisons with fugitives and rebels or those who systematically violated the regime of detention. Of course, there were gangsters, but most of them were sentenced to death.
Alcatraz Prison (pictured)

Alcatraz prison was at one time a legend of the American penitentiary system: the most dangerous criminals or those who managed to escape from other prisons were imprisoned here.

Prison life began with rising at 6:30, prisoners were given 25 minutes to clean their cells, after which each prisoner had to go to the cell bars for roll call. If everyone was in place at 6:55, the individual rows of cells opened one by one and the prisoners moved into the prison cafeteria. They were given 20 minutes to eat, then they were lined up to distribute prison work. The monotonous cycle of prison routine was unforgiving and remained unchanged for many years. The main corridor of the prison building was called "Broadway" by prisoners, and the cells on the second tier along this passage were the most coveted in the prison. Other cells were located downstairs, were cold, and were frequently passed by staff and prisoners.


During the early years of Alcatraz, Warden Johnston maintained a policy of silence, which many prisoners considered the most intolerable punishment. There were many complaints demanding its cancellation. There were rumors that several prisoners went crazy because of this rule. The silence policy was later abolished, one of the few rule changes on Alcatraz.

In the eastern wing there were solitary cells in isolation cells. They didn’t even have a full-fledged toilet: just a hole, the flush of which was controlled by a security guard. They were placed in the isolation ward without outer clothing and on meager rations. The cell door had a lockable narrow slot for passing food, which was always closed, leaving the prisoner in complete darkness. Usually they were placed in isolation for 1-2 days. It was cold in the cell, and a mattress was only provided at night. This was considered the most severe punishment for serious violations and bad behavior, and it was a punishment that all prisoners feared. The new prison also needed a new chief. The Federal Bureau of Prisons selected James A. Johnston for this position. Johnston was chosen for his strong principles and humane approach to reforming criminals to reintegrate them into society. He was also known for his reforms to benefit prisoners.

Johnston did not believe in chained convicts. He believed that prisoners should be put into work where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts. Nicknamed the "Golden Rule Warden," the press praised Johnston for the improvements he made to California highways at his road camps. The prisoners working in them were not paid any money, but their sentences were reduced for diligent work.

Alcatraz Prison: Escapes

The most successful escape attempt that was possibly successful occurred in 1962. Frank Morris, along with brothers John Anglin and Clarence Anglin, use a homemade drill to dig cement out of walls. Having carefully prepared, having studied the guard shift schedule and other nuances, on June 11, 1962, they escaped through the service tunnel located behind their cells.

Having got out into the tunnel, they filled the hole with bricks from the nutria, and in their sleeping places, in our opinion (beds, or more precisely in relation to prisons, bunks) they left dummies of their bodies so that the escape would be revealed as later as possible. Then, through the screw system, they penetrated the roof and went down to the water through a drainage channel. There, using pre-prepared rubber raincoats, they inflated a raft of raincoats with the help of a small accordion and set off to swim. According to the official version, they never swam to shore and drowned somewhere in the bay, and their bodies were never found.

But according to the unofficial version, verified by many independent experts, this escape from Alcatraz prison was successful and the prisoners managed to escape to freedom. Even the famous show “MythBusters,” becoming interested in this story, carried out its own investigation, which proved that the escape could have been successful.

Another possibly successful escape attempt occurred on December 16, 1937 - Theodore Cole and his friend Ralph Roe, after working for some time in an iron workshop, developed a plan and, on one of their shifts, used the tools there to remove the bars from the window and headed towards the water. On that ill-fated day, they were unlucky - a strong storm broke out and, probably “according to the official version,” they drowned without reaching the shore of San Francisco. Their bodies were never found, and most people are convinced and believe that they were swept out to sea by a storm. According to the official version, they are still considered missing.
Notable Alcatraz Prison Inmates:

The most famous prisoner who served his sentence in Alcatraz prison is certainly Al Capone. In July 1931, a federal court sentenced Al Capone to ten years in prison for tax evasion and sent him to the Atlanta Correctional Facility to serve his sentence. In 1934, he was transferred to a special security prison on Alcatraz Island, from where he was released seven years later, terminally ill with syphilis.

State enemy number one, George Machine Gun Kelly, was sentenced to life imprisonment; in Alcatraz, he was not the ruthless and cruel killer and gangster he was in freedom. For his exemplary behavior, he received the nickname Flapper George. After serving 17 years in Alcatraz prison, he was transferred to the mainland back to Leavenstone prison (Kansas) where he died of a heart attack in 1951.

A young guy whose fate was ruined by one judge, Robert Stroud, a poultry farmer, killed a man who had beaten and robbed his wife in self-defense, for which he received 12 years, although at that time in practice they gave 2-3 years for similar crimes, but the new judge decided to show himself and gave him 12 years old. Then he went on a rampage in prison, killing a guard who cruelly mocked him and was sentenced to death, and only thanks to his mother remained alive; she miraculously submitted a request to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment to US President Woodrow Wilson. He spent almost 80% of his time in solitary confinement. He received his nickname because of his passion for birds, which turned into a real scientific work that was appreciated by the entire scientific community. He died in Alcatraz Prison at the age of 75, without receiving a pardon.

Known gangster and train robber Roy Gardner, who stole more than $350,000 during his criminal career, primarily robbed mail trains. The reward on his head at that time was a very impressive 5 thousand US dollars, he was the most wanted man on the US Pacific coast in all history. On September 5, 1921, he escaped from the Prison on McNeil Island. Apparently out of stupidity there is no other way to call it, he began writing letters to newspapers appealing to the authorities “come and get me,” and after being captured he was transported to Alcatraz prison. He published his autobiography with the title “Hellish Alcatraz”. In it, he talked not only about his life but also about other famous personalities of Alcatraz prison (Al Capone, Birdman, George Machine Gun Kelly and others). He was part of a group that planned an escape and it seems to me that they were successful, but he did not go with them.

Alcatraz Prison: Closing

On March 21, 1963, Alcatraz prison was closed. According to the official version, this was done because the costs of maintaining prisoners on the island were too high. The prison required approximately $3-5 million worth of renovations. In addition, keeping prisoners on the island was too expensive compared to a mainland prison, since everything regularly had to be imported from the mainland.

After the closure, many ways to further use the island were discussed - for example, it was proposed to place a UN monument there. In 1969, a group of Indians from various tribes moved to the island, effectively capturing it. This was done thanks to the federal Indian Free Removal Act of 1934. While living on the island, the Indians burned large fires in the buildings and painted the walls. Due to the fires, the security rest house, a quarter of the coast guard barracks and the prison warden's house were severely damaged, and many apartments in residential buildings on the island were also significantly damaged. However, the Indians did not stay on the island for long, and in June 1971, by decision of the US government, they were expelled from Alcatraz. The writings on the walls can still be seen today. In 1971, the island was made part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The island was opened to tourists in 1973 and now receives about a million visitors each year.

Spread over 22 acres of land, the infamous Alcatraz Island is filled with frightening stories and incredible legends. The rocky shore in San Francisco Bay has been a haven for seabirds for millennia, but has become notorious for its captives. Called "Devil's Island" by Native Americans, Alcatraz has long been associated with violence and supernatural forces. On the island there was a military fortress, a prison with inhabitants who had committed “grave and irredeemable” crimes. Alcatraz survived years of abandonment in the company of ghosts, and was a movie set. To get a closer look at the rocky island, we'll take a seat on the ferry at pier 33 in San Francisco Bay.

A mile and a quarter from the San Francisco coastline are the Alcatraz cliffs, which occupied the first line of defense of the bay during the Gold Rush. Defense troops and artillery in the 1850s were ready to repel the attack.

The first myth is probably about Fort Alcatraz's ability to repel an attack. The island's artillery was not able to conduct direct aimed fire.

On July 1876, a mock battle was fought. A barge filled with explosives entered the bay, and the artillery was preparing to destroy the imaginary aggressor with the fire of its guns.

Things didn't work out. Alcatraz's guns did not reach their intended target. Then the young officer, under the cover of a smoke screen, set fire to the ship of an imaginary enemy, preventing him from filling the bay with explosives, thereby ensuring the safety of the peaceful life of the bay.

In the end, Alcatraz's cannons were dismantled without firing a single shot at the enemy.

Alcatraz prison has the most unfading glory.

In 1934, the island became the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, for the most criminals. The island is washed by the cold water of San Francisco Bay, making escape from Alcatraz almost impossible, and this is the next myth.

They escaped from Alcatraz, but never returned. Did those who escaped survive? Nobody knows, but there are plenty of theories, which provides ample ground for all sorts of interpretations.

Compared to the myths, Alcatraz's statistics are not impressive. Its 366 cells were never fully occupied. There were, on average, 260 prisoners, not a single woman among them. During its 29 years of service as a federal prison, no more than 1,600 convicts passed through Alcatraz.

Escape from Alcatraz

The most famous escape from Alcatraz by the brave trio, who exploited all the weaknesses of the fortress, took place in June 1962. After 29 years of existence, the prison fell into disrepair under the leadership of drunkard Olin G, known as "Gypsy Blackwell." The lack of funding affected everything.

On the night of the escape, Frank Morris and his brothers John and Clarence Anglin managed to escape from their cells and climb to the roof. From there to the shore of the island, where we used a homemade raft from scrap materials.

Where and how did they get life jackets, raft parts and even doll heads to fool the guards when going around the cells?

They widened the ventilation hole and entered the corridor behind the cell. Then they were able to climb through the pipes to the top of block C. Then, through the ventilation duct, they climbed onto the roof and, there it was, the starry sky overhead!

An accomplice of the fugitives, Allen West, received permission from security to cover a huge area of ​​the roof with blankets, supposedly to protect against dust and paint during repairs.

Thus, in the “most guarded” prison, “completely excluding the possibility of escape,” a secret plan worked, deceiving the Alcatraz guards. They only had to look into the storage room above Block C to find floating objects, fasteners, glue and even a homemade periscope.

But that did not happen. And for months, with great care, the fugitives were able to build a raft.

Under the cover of other prisoners, the escape took place in 1962. The administration of the penal system managed to hide the incident from the public for a long time. The escape became known only in 1990, when classified FBI materials were disclosed.

The terrifying image of Alcatraz, guarded by impassive guards, turned out to be a myth. At least in the last years of the prison's existence. Be that as it may, the legendary place of serving sentences was closed a year after the escape of three friends.

They were actively searching for the fugitives, combing the shores. There are many cases where the distance from the island to the shores of the bay was overcome by swimming, but our heroes were probably carried out by the current into the Pacific Ocean. All that was found later were fragments of the raft, oars and personal photographs.

No body was found, although a Norwegian ship reported a drowned man floating face down, similar in description and location to one of the escapees.

The FBI transferred the case to the US Department of Corrections on December 31, 1979, which cannot be closed until each of the fugitives turns 100 years old, or they or their bodies are discovered. The term expires in 2026, 2030 and 2031.

Reports of people similar to the Alcatraz escapees come from all over the world, but have never been confirmed. Some claim that the three anti-heroes have settled in South America. Skeptics insist that they could not overcome the current at night from the San Francisco Bay and died long ago. A minority believes that the fugitives managed to get lost and hide outside the prison.

The case manager for the fugitives, Michael Dyke, has half a dozen more like them on his hands. Each year he focuses on the 1962 Alcatraz escapees. But after 52 years, very little or nothing of the observations, rumors, theories has surfaced.

Bottom line: Nobody Knows what happened to the fugitives.

By the way, what about sharks? Ruthless cannibals filling the waters of the bay? Myth. Sand sharks predominate and do not prey on humans.

Bird lover.

Alcatraz was home to hundreds of bad guys, including Al Capone, "Machine Gun Georges," Kelly, and Robert Stroud, known as the Alcatraz "Bird Lover."

The story of the “bird lover” gave rise to another type of myth about Alcatraz, according to which the criminals who ended up here became kind and inquisitive. This idyllic story came to the silver screen in 1962, starring Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud.

Stroud collected unique observations and studies of birds that were published posthumously. The public also saw two more of his books, an autobiography and a description of the US prison system.

Stroud was as complicated as birds talk. An impulsive killer and violent psychopath, whose temper subsided only with age. Entering the prison system as a 19-year-old, he never left, spending 42 of his 52 years behind bars in solitary confinement.

Being a “bird lover,” Stroud conducted all his research at Fort Leavenworth, and not at Alcatraz, according to legend. Alcatraz is home to countless birds, but Stroud was not allowed to make observations here.

The film also portrays Stroud as the man who stopped the armed riot. This did not happen. The prisoners who got out of control and took possession of weapons were killed with weapons in their hands.

Ghosts of Alcatraz.

Considering the number of souls that passed through these stone vaults, the walls must have been saturated with despair and hatred. This makes it possible for ghosts to appear and stories about them. Numerous photographs of the rocks of Alcatraz did not capture a single lost soul.

According to one legend, since the Civil War, a mustachioed soldier in an officer’s jacket has been wandering along the shores of Alcatraz. The remaining ghosts take a wide variety of forms, appearing as shadows, mists, cold spots, little girls, a pink face, and even a yellow cat.

They are quite noisy, whining, crying and begging for help. They manipulate objects by clinking chains, shooting, and even playing the accordion.

Al Capone was heard playing the banjo, as he had done earlier in the bathroom.

Invisible shadows follow you, sometimes touching you, sometimes pouring cold on you, causing a feeling of fear.

The greatest activity of ghosts is in the three-story block D, known as the “correctional block.” Six isolated cells contained the instigators of the disorder. The greatest ghost activity was reported in cell 14D, the so-called “strip cell” where prisoners were thrown without clothes.

Cell 14D is behind double doors, dark, damp and unsettling. Surely the most undesirable place to spend time in the company of ghosts.

None of the stories sincerely told by guards, prisoners, visitors, or parapsychologists has yet been confirmed. No feeling of fear can be assessed or recorded. No one can describe with confidence and detail their experiences when it comes to the paranormal. If stories do not have confirmation, then they are unconfirmed.

Are there ghosts in Alcatraz? There is no evidence yet, but there are a lot of exciting myths. No one will doubt that Alcatraz has a terrifying appearance.

Alcatraz today.

There is much more to Alcatraz than mystery and fear. The nature of the island, the cultural occupation by Native Americans from 1969 to 1971, and many colorful personalities associated with this place.

These days, Alcatraz is one of the stops on the way to the mysterious. The island is very popular with tourists and is part of the US Park Service. Instead of ghosts, you will be met at the pier by rosy-cheeked rangers who will introduce you to the attraction. Instead of taciturn guards and prisoners plotting their escape, the corridors of the fortress are filled with curious tourists. Where can you hear the clanging of metal? This is a busy cash register in a souvenir shop where you can buy anything from a trinket to a prison uniform with a number. Even the dull area of ​​the yard now has a green lawn, and the entire area has been transformed thanks to landscape design.

Translation by Vladimir Maksimenko 2013-2014

On March 21, 1963, the famous Alcatraz prison was closed in the United States. This is not the only island prison in the world. It was believed that they were the most reliable and even the most notorious thugs would not be able to escape from a prison surrounded by water. Here are a few of them

Alcatraz, USA.

The island is located in San Francisco Bay. The discoverer of this picturesque place was Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. In those days, the island was literally swarming with pelicans, which is why it got its name. Alcatraz means "pelican" in Spanish. Since then, the island has been used primarily for military purposes. At different times it was a fort, then a fortress was built on it. And in 1861, the island began to function as a prison. Civil War prisoners began to be placed there. At the beginning of the 20th century, an earthquake struck San Francisco, and many prisoners from the mainland were relocated to the island. And since 1920, Alcatraz has turned from a temporary shelter into a real prison. Then a large three-story building was added to the fortress. This place became the “home” for many criminals who served sentences here for petty crimes, as well as for theft and murder. At first, the regime was not strict, but in the 30s, when crime began to rampant, Alcatraz became a place of detention for “big fish.” For example, the famous gangster Al Capone served his time in prison. By the way, at first it was difficult to escape from Alcatraz due to the strong current, and later the prison itself was converted so that escape became simply impossible. All the service premises in the building were even bricked up. After existing for almost 30 years, the prison was closed on March 21, 1963. Now there are excursions to Alcatraz, and in the museum you can learn a lot of interesting things about its inhabitants.

Devil's Island (Devil's Island), French Guiana.

It is the smallest of the Ile du Salut islands. There are no mosquitoes here, so the first colonists who arrived on the island in the 18th century liked it. A little later, criminals began to be brought to the island. And not by chance. The waters around the island were infested with sharks, and the current was so rough that escaping from prison was out of the question. In addition, the hot climate in itself was a punishment for the prisoners. Only a few prisoners tried to escape from Devil's Island, but only two managed to survive. After the French Revolution, intellectuals who dared to oppose the official government began to be sent here to hard labor. Many writers, journalists, and scientists simply disappeared in this tropical region. Many died from diseases: fever, consumption, dysentery. By the way, it was to Devil’s Island that Captain Alfred Dreyfus, accused of treason in 1894, was exiled. Now the hut in which he lived has become a place of pilgrimage for tourists.

Robben Island, South Africa.

The island is located twelve kilometers from Cape Town and, in fact, is unremarkable. Perhaps the prison where political criminals were imprisoned during the apartheid years. Interestingly, it was here that the first black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, served his term. He languished behind bars for 28 years, from 1962 to 1990. Now the prison on Robben Island has become a museum.

Solovetsky Islands, Russia.

Getting to the Solovetsky Islands is still quite difficult these days. What can we say about those times when airplanes and cars did not yet exist. The first settlements on the archipelago in the White Sea were settled by monks. And Solovki began to turn into a place of exile two centuries later. The monks themselves began to use the islands to imprison the “disobedient.” Until the 20th century, the Solovetsky Islands performed a military defensive function. And only in the 20s they turned into SLON (Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp). Already in 1923, the first prisoners arrived in Solovki. Monastery cells and monasteries were used as cells for them. By the end of that decade, the camp had grown so large that Solovki became just one of the branches in the Gulag system. Prisoners of Solovki built the White Sea-Baltic Canal. In 1939 the prison was closed. Over the years of the camp's existence, many nobles, intellectuals, military men and peasants were exiled to the Solovetsky Islands.

Princes' Islands, Türkiye.

These nine islands are located off the coast of Istanbul in the Sea of ​​Marmara. Now it is a peaceful place where you can relax from the bustle of the capital. However, during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires it was a scary place. Especially for the princes and relatives of the sultans who were exiled here. By the way, this is why the islands got their name. True, later their story is very prosaic. In the century before last, the islands became a popular resort for wealthy Greeks and Jews. Nowadays, when you get to the islands, you get the impression that you have stepped back in time. Motor transport is still prohibited here, only horse-drawn vehicles travel. You can get there from the mainland by ferry.

Video in English.

Bastoy Island, Norway.

Norway treats criminals very humanely. And the conditions of confinement are so comfortable for them that they feel almost at home. And the prison on the island of Bastoy can safely be considered a resort, however, only convicts go there. They don't know what cramped cold cells are. Prisoners on Bastoy live in cozy wooden houses of six people. They can move freely within the island and swim in the sea. Here they can, if they wish, play tennis or go to the sauna. True, you need to work first. Prisoners receive a salary. They can spend their salary in local shops. You can only get to the island by water. In total, there are 115 prisoners on the island, among them drug traffickers, rapists and murderers. There are no guards here, but we have only heard about the barbed wire. But prisoners are still required to check in several times a day. However, such an almost fabulous life is created for convicts in pursuit of certain goals. Norwegians believe that in this way criminals will be able to return to society as full members. Indeed, only 20% of people serving sentences in Norwegian prisons commit crimes again.

Gorgon Islands in Colombia and Italy.

One is located on the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. There is a maximum security colony here, where notorious scoundrels are sent. However, they also found control. Prisoners have recently been growing grapes on the island for wine production. Interestingly, the wine company that initiated the project has committed to employing convicts after they serve their sentences.

Another Gorgon Island is located in the Pacific Ocean, 26 km from the mainland. They began to populate it only in the second half of the last century. Mostly rapists and murderers were sent to prison. The conditions there were harsh, like in concentration camps. The prisoners slept on a hard floor, and instead of a toilet there were holes in the floor. Escape was problematic: either sharks would eat you, or poisonous snakes would bite you. True, one repeat offender managed to escape. He built a raft and used it to reach the mainland. After this the prison was closed. Now the buildings are densely overgrown with vines. And the island itself was declared a national park. Now no one lives on Gorgon except the national park workers.

Con Dao Archipelago, Vietnam.

It is located south of the city of Vung Tau. During colonial France, revolutionaries were sent here. And the prison building was built even earlier, in 1861. Now part of the islands is occupied by a museum. Curious tourists, for example, may be impressed by the tiger cages and the cemetery where prisoners were buried. So there is little left of the “hellish” prison. However, during colonization, thirteen prisons were built here. At one time, about twenty thousand political prisoners died here.

The French took unwanted people to prison on the island of Con Son on the same archipelago. In the 20th century, the prison was transferred to South Vietnam, whose government imprisoned opponents of the regime. Now there is a museum of the revolution on the island. Many instruments of torture from ancient times are kept there.

Ile d'If, France.

This is perhaps the most famous prison island. The famous writer Alexandre Dumas glorified him by writing a story about the Count of Monte Cristo. The fortress was built in 1531. But no one ever attacked it, and therefore there was no need to use it for military purposes. The fortress was turned into a prison, from which it was almost impossible to escape in those days. The first prisoner of the Chateau d'If was the Chevalier Anselm, accused of conspiracy. In the 17th century, Huguenots were sent to prison. They were kept in inhumane conditions, so many did not live to see the day of liberation. However, noble prisoners had advantages, especially if they could pay their jailers. They were allowed out for walks and fed better. Other prisoners were placed in the lower tiers, where no light even penetrated. It was cold there in winter and stuffy in summer. Only at the end of the 19th century the castle ceased to be a prison; now it is visited by tourists.

Camera by Edmond Dantes from Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo

Mont Saint Michel, France.

The abbey here was founded in the 10th century by Benedictine monks; for several centuries the island was a center of pilgrimage and was a popular holy place. However, at the end of the 16th century it began to fall into disrepair, and a prison was built here. Now Mont Saint-Michel has become a cultural monument.

Islands of Pianosa and Asinari, Italy.

The first is located near Tuscany, the second is off the coast of Sardinia. The prison in Pianosa was built in the 19th century and political criminals were imprisoned there. But later it began to be inhabited by dangerous mafiosi. During the First World War, prisoners of war were kept on Asinar. However, already in the 90s of the last century, both prisons were closed. Now there are nature reserves there.

Special regime correctional colony for life prisoners "Vologda Pyatak"

Fire Island, Russia, Vologda region.

Located 700 km from Moscow, Fire Island was in the past a monastery. Nowadays, people sentenced to life imprisonment are brought here. The one and a half meter thick wall was built by the monks, the solution was laid on egg yolks, but there was no earth underfoot - the island was built on granite blocks. Not a single prisoner has ever escaped from here. And where?! There are hundreds of kilometers of forests and swamps around.

The walls of the prison rise directly from the lake waters. They say that the first recluse appeared in it back in 1566, and during the Copper Riot, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich hid his favorite boyar Boris Morozov from the wrath of the mob. And after 1918, a dungeon was set up in the cells for “enemies of the people.” Since then, prayers have been offered there not by monks, but by prisoners.

You can get here only through the neighboring island - Sladky, on which the staff and guards of the colony live. A 480-meter log bridge will be thrown here from the “mainland”. Another one was thrown from Sladkoe to the walls of the monastery. And only now here he is - Fiery! These bridges, by the way, “lit up” in Vasily Shukshin’s film “Kalina Krasnaya”.

There are 178 murderers in Pyatak. And on Sladkoe and in neighboring villages, the same number of guards and families are huddled in crumbling log houses. This is how it is supposed to be: for one “death row” there is one jailer.

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Ognenny Island: Russian special colony for convicts.