Anyone who loves American history, prison stories, or just creepy stuff in general is going to get a kick out of these 20 eerie facts about one of the States’ most infamous prisons – Alcatraz!
#20. What’s in a name?
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Alcatraz was originally named La Isla de los Alcatraces by 1775 Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala. It translates to Island of the Pelicans (or Strange Bird), but it is, of course, mostly referred to as the Rock.
#19. The rules were quite strict.
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Prisoners were allowed visitors once a month, but conversations were monitored and limited to approved topics. Off-limits were current events and prison life, and if one violated the rules, then they were banned from having visitors for life.
#18. It also once housed a military fort.
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From the early 1850’s, a fort on the island was equipped with cannons and guns – enough firepower to discourage anyone from attacking the country through San Fran.
#17. It’s probably haunted.
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It’s on most people’s lists of most haunted places in America, and the original Native American inhabitants of the island claimed to have encountered evil spirits even before it became a prison.
#16. Some of the prisoners there went 20 years without hearing a female voice.
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Alcatraz housed no female prisoners, but there were also no female guards, administrators, or any other women hired to work there, ever.
#15. There is no fresh water on the island.
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A supply ship came every week with close to one million gallons of water, food, fuel, and other supplies.
#14. It’s possibly home to Al Capone’s ghost.
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People still hear banjo music coming from the showers, where he used to practice.
#13. No one ever (officially) escaped.
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Of the 36 men who attempted to flee, 5 are still missing and are assumed to have drowned. 23 were recaptured and the remaining 6 were shot and killed.
#12. There was, however, at least one very clever attempt.
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In 1945, John Giles stole an army uniform from the laundry bags and walked onto an army truck wearing it, managing to get off the island. Sadly for him, the truck was headed to Angel Island instead of the city, and correctional officers were waiting there to send him back.
#11. Native Americans once occupied it to protest the government taking native lands.
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In 1969, Native American activists occupied the abandoned prison – at one point during the 19 months, they numbered almost 400 – and in 1970 President Nixon reversed the policy (for a time).
#10. It’s not surrounded by man-eating sharks.
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The myth was created and maintained to keep prisoners from trying to escape, but in truth, the only sharks in the bay are harmless bottom-feeders. There was real danger in trying to swim off the island, but it lay in the extremely cold water, strong currents, and mile-plus swim, all of which could easily lead to drowning.
#9. The island was originally home to a lighthouse.
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In fact, it was built in 1852 and was the first lighthouse on the West Coast.
#8. It drove some men to madness.
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Several are reported to have gone insane in the prison, and at least a few engaged in self-mutilation and suicide.
#7. It has a baby brother prison.
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ADX Florence Prison in CO has so many insane security features it’s known as the Alcatraz of the Rockies, and is home to infamous criminals like Ted Kaczynski and Richard Reid.
#6. For the birds.
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Now, the island is home to around 5,000 birds of 9 different species.
#5. It was the only prison to offer hot showers.
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It wasn’t a kindness – the leadership believed if the men were used to hot water, they would be even less likely to hop into the frigid bay waters to attempt an escape.
#4. An annual triathlon proves escape was technically possible.
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Every year, trained athletes complete the 1.5 mile swim to San Francisco, along with an 18-mile bike ride and an eight-mile run.
#3. Space was tight.
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The majority of cells were smaller than most people’s closets these days – just five feet by nine feet – and housed a sink, toilet, and a cot.
#2. Building your own prison.
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After the army tore down the island fortress to the foundations, they forced military prisoners to build their own disciplinary barracks. Talk about insult to injury!
#1. They had no executions in the prison.
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Still, there were deaths – 8 prisoners murdered by inmates, 5 suicides, and 15 natural deaths. Over 29 years, though, it wasn’t a lot.
Time to plan a trip!
