Alcatraz

A Brief History of Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island, located in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay, has a long and layered history, evolving from a military fortress to one of America’s most infamous federal prisons.

Originally named La Isla de los Alcatraces (“Island of the Pelicans”) by Spanish explorers in 1775, the island remained largely unused until the mid-1800s. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore reserved Alcatraz for military use, and by the 1860s, it was fortified with cannons to defend the Bay during the Civil War. Around the same time, it began housing military prisoners, becoming the first long-term Army prison in the U.S.

In 1934, the U.S. Department of Justice transformed Alcatraz into a federal penitentiary, designed to hold the most dangerous and escape-prone inmates in the country. Known for its isolation, harsh rules, and strict discipline, Alcatraz became home to notorious criminals like Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.”

Despite its reputation for being inescapable, 36 prisoners attempted to escape over the years. Most were caught or died—though the 1962 escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers remains one of the most famous unsolved prison breaks in U.S. history.

Alcatraz prison closed in 1963 due to high operating costs and deteriorating infrastructure. In 1969, the island was occupied by Native American activists in a protest that lasted 19 months, drawing national attention to Indigenous rights.

Today, Alcatraz is a national historic site, managed by the National Park Service. It draws over a million visitors a year who come to explore its stark cells, dramatic views, and storied past.