Alcatraz

Set on a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, and surrounded by cold sea and strong currents, Alcatraz was a prison from which escape was virtually impossible. Former inmates included Al Capone and the ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’. The building is now empty of prisoners and is run as a tourist attraction.

Cells within Alcatraz Prison, California, USA. Alcatraz, situated on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is arguably the most notorious prison in the world. Isolated and formidable, it has inspired numerous films and books about daring escapes. The prison has been closed since 1963, and Alcatraz is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.

Small island in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Once used as a Spanish military post, the island was later the site of a US military prison (1868–1934), and then served as a Federal maximum security prison (1934–63). The dangerous tides allowed few successful escapes. In the 1970, the island was occupied for a time by American Indian activists. The island is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is a popular tourist attraction.

Federal inmates included the gangster Al Capone and the ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’, a prisoner who used his time in solitary confinement to become an authority on caged birds.