Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island · San Francisco Bay, USA
The federal prison that held Al Capone; three inmates who escaped in 1962 were never found.
Know before you go
- Don't enter fenced-off areas
- don't touch or carve the walls
- the island is a seabird breeding site, so keep away from nesting areas
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The 1962 escape
On the night of 11 June 1962, Frank Morris and the brothers John and Clarence Anglin chipped through the air vents of their cells with homemade tools, left papier-mâché dummy heads in their beds to fool the night guards, climbed down from the roof and left the island on a raft made of raincoats. The three were never seen again; officials believe they most likely drowned in the bay, but no bodies were ever found. Less than a year later, on 21 March 1963, Alcatraz prison closed.
Source: Wikipedia: Alcatraz Island
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Alcatraz, in San Francisco Bay, became a federal prison in 1934, and the first 137 inmates were brought to the island that August. In its 29 years it held some of the most notorious criminals in American history, including Al Capone and Robert Stroud, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz'. The most famous escape came on 11 June 1962: Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers escaped their cells using homemade tools and dummy heads and left the island on a makeshift raft, never to be seen again. The prison closed on 21 March 1963. From November 1969 a group of Native Americans occupied the island for more than 19 months in protest.
Local customs
- Today it is a national park
- the cellhouse audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is the highlight of a visit
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Driving in the US: what to do when police pull you over
- Signal right and pull over safely to the right
- Roll down your window after stopping, before the officer reaches you
- At night, turn on the interior light
- Keep both hands on the wheel and ask passengers to keep their hands visible too
- Getting out and walking towards the police car
- Suddenly reaching for the glovebox, a pocket or under the seat
Sudden movements may be read as a threat and become dangerous. The wording of the rules varies slightly between states.
Not yet verifiedSource: Texas Department of Public Safety driver handbook
Don’t DON'T
- Don't enter fenced-off areas
- don't touch or carve the walls
- the island is a seabird breeding site, so keep away from nesting areas
Locals appreciate DO
Americans appreciate visitors who follow the tour quietly and don't wander into closed areas.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Morning or a night tour |
|---|---|
| Time needed | Half a day |
Travel tips
- You can only reach the island on the official concession ferry, which often sells out weeks ahead in peak season — book early online
- it's windy on the island, so bring a jacket
- night tours show you San Francisco lit up
Photos
Photos
Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Radomianin · Public domain
Sources & verification notes
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