Exactly 90 years ago to the day, a barge carrying 32 of America’s most dangerous criminals docked at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. They were the first inmates. Nicknamed “The Rock,” the prison was built on a 22-acre rocky outcrop 1.5 miles offshore in the cold, turbulent, shark-infested waters of San Francisco Bay. It was considered escape-proof. When Alcatraz closed in 1963, there were 14 escape attempts involving 36 inmates. A group of three inmates managed to escape, but they were never found. Here’s a look at the world’s most famous prison.
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ON THE ISLANDFrom 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz housed approximately 1,576 prisoners, with an average inmate population of 260 to 270. The maximum capacity of 336 was never reached. Many of the prison staff lived on the island with their families.
The great escapeIn 1962, three inmates managed to escape from Alcatraz. However, there was never any evidence of their survival. This is how they did it:
- The three men used metal spoons to cut an opening in the wall of their cell. On the night of their escape, they placed masks made of papier-mâché and human hair on their pillows to make it look like they were sleeping in bed.
- The three crawled through the opening, made their way through a corridor behind the walls and climbed out of a fan on the roof.
- They slid down the bakery chimney at the back of the cell house.
- They climbed over a fence and ran to the northeast shore of the island, where they launched a raft made of 50 stolen raincoats.
IN PRISONThe prison building was constructed between 1910 and 1912 when Alcatraz was a military facility. When the disciplinary barracks were transferred from military control to the Bureau of Prisons in 1933, the building was converted to a cell house with four cell blocks and reinforced cell bars to prevent escapes at a cost of $260,000. There were 336 cells in Blocks B and C.
THE CELLThe cells contained a small sink with cold running water, a small camp bed, and a toilet. Most men could stretch out their arms and touch every wall in their cell.
THE MOST NOTORIOUS PRISONERS OF ALCALTRAZ
LIFE IN PRISON
Prisoners arrived at Alcatraz in handcuffs and leg irons. Daily life was hard and prisoners had only four rights: medical care, housing, food and clothing. Leisure activities and family visits had to be earned through hard work.
6:30 am: Morning whistle. The prisoners get up, get dressed and tidy their cells.6:45 am: Guards stationed in the dining room supervise the prisoners.6:50 am: Second morning whistle. Prisoners stand at the doors. Guards count and unlock the cell doors.6:55 am: A whistle sounds and the prisoners leave their cells.7: Third whistle signal. The prisoners go to the canteen and have 20 minutes to eat.7:20 am: The prisoners are taken to the recreation yard, to the prison or to their work cells.7:25 am: Guards count the prisoners.7:30 am: The workshop manager counts his group, signs the count sheet and reports it to the lieutenant.9:30 am: rest time.9:38 am: A whistle blows and the prisoners gather for the count. The count is reported and the men return to their work.11:30 am: The prisoners gather, are counted, registered and reported to the lieutenant.11:35 am: The prisoners line up and walk to the dining room.11:40 am: Dinner, lunch: locking up and cell counting.12:20 pm: Unlocking; prisoners report for work in the yard or shop.12:30 p.m.: Prisoners are counted.2:30 am: Rest time4:15 am: The work is finished and the counting is done.4:25 am: The prisoners report to the dining room.4:45 am: The prisoners return to their cells.4:50 am: Permanent ban5, 8, 9:30 (lights out), 00:01, 3, 5: Prisoners are counted.
Sources: National Park Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, History.com
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