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Alcatraz Island — The checkable facts
Quick answer
The short version of Alcatraz Island history: a federal penitentiary for 29 years, from 1934 to 1963, holding about 300 inmates at a time in single cells. Thirty-six men made 14 escape attempts; three of them vanished in 1962 and were never found. After it closed, Native American activists occupied the island for 19 months.
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Federal penitentiary operated 1934 to 1963 | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| 36 men took part in 14 escape attempts | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| Occupation by Indians of All Tribes lasted 19 months | NPS — The Occupation of Alcatraz |
| Island sits about 1.25 miles offshore | National Park Service — Alcatraz Island |
| Cells measured roughly 5 by 9 feet and each man had his own | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| Nearly one million gallons of fresh water were barged to the island each week | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| Five escapees were never found; the FBI closed its case in 1979 while the US Marshals Service keeps the file open | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| The last 27 inmates were transferred out in March 1963 | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
| The island joined the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 | National Park Service — Alcatraz Island |
| Water temperature around the island runs between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit | Federal Bureau of Prisons — Alcatraz history |
Frequently asked
How long was Alcatraz a federal prison?
Twenty-nine years. It opened as a federal penitentiary in August 1934 and closed in March 1963, shut down because the salt air had wrecked the buildings and running an island prison cost roughly three times what a mainland one did.
Did anyone actually escape from Alcatraz?
Officially nobody made it. Of 36 men in 14 attempts, 23 were caught, 6 were shot dead and 2 drowned. Five were never found, including the three who disappeared in June 1962: the FBI concluded they drowned, while the US Marshals Service still lists the case as open.
Why did Native American activists occupy Alcatraz?
A group called Indians of All Tribes landed in November 1969 and claimed the island under a treaty clause covering surplus federal land. They held it for 19 months, and the protest helped end the federal policy of terminating tribal recognition.
Can you visit Alcatraz without a tour?
You need a ferry ticket from the concessioner that runs the crossing, and those sell out days ahead in summer. Once you land, the island is self-guided, which is why an audio guide in your own language is worth having before you board.
Was Al Capone really held on Alcatraz?
Yes. Capone arrived in August 1934 and spent four and a half years there, working in the prison laundry for part of it. He was moved to a prison in California in 1939 as his health failed.
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