Definition of Alcatraz Prison

Prison, jail, penal or penitentiary center are equivalent denominations, since all of them refer to an enclosure in which the inmates are confined for having committed a crime. Alcatraz Prison is in the present one of the most typical tourist visits for those who travel to the city of San Francisco. Regarding its exact location, it is on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, California.

Between 1934 and 1963 it was a high security prison

Before becoming a prison it was a military fortification. It was built in the 18th century by the Spanish with the intention of control access to the Bay of San Francisco and its first name was "Isla de los Alcatraces". The person who baptized her that way was a Spanish naval lieutenant named Juan Manuel de Ayala.

Later, this place served as a penitentiary to house military prisoners during the war civil from the United States.

The prison's inmate population, popularly known as "the Rock," included some of the most notorious criminals.

In his cells were the gangsters Al Capone or George Barnes and murderers like Alvin Karpis or George Robert Stroud (the latter was known as "the man with the birds" and his life in prison was taken to movie theater by Burt Lancaster in the film "The Man from Alcatraz").

In 1962 three prisoners organized an ingenious escape plan for seven months and managed to get out of the prison and escape the island with a raft made of raincoats. They were never found and all kinds of stories have been told about them: some researchers claim who fled to Brazil and according to the official version drowned in the cold waters of the Bay of San Francisco.

Data of interest

- In 1963 the prison was closed due to its high costs of maintenance.

- Among the most striking stories about this place, some episodes of paranormal phenomena stand out.

- Despite its reputation as a sinister penitentiary, the prisoners had sports facilities, were well fed and had access to Water hot. The population recluse engaged in recreational activities and, in fact, Al Capone joined a gang of music playing the banjo.

- To prevent possible escape attempts, the prison officials spread a very effective: There were sharks in the waters of San Francisco Bay.

- In 1969 a group of Native Americans occupied the island for a year and a half. With this action they claimed that the island would become a reserve for the population of Sious and Lakota Indians.

- Currently the island of Alcatraz is integrated into the national park system of the United States.

Photo: Fotolia - David Pecheux