| Everyone knows Alcatraz as the island prison in the | | | | the pair really started to pursue their careers and |
| San Francisco Bay but Alcatraz has a long history | | | | criminals not only as bootleggers but as bank robbers |
| that reaches back further than its days as a federal | | | | and kidnappers. The nickname "Machine Gun" Kelly |
| penitentiary. In 1853 the Army Corps of Engineers | | | | actually came from his wife Katheryn. She purchased |
| began a project to fortify the island. When the | | | | a machine gun for her husband and was making a |
| project was completed 5 years later the first soldiers | | | | name for him by passing out spent cartridge shells at |
| arrived there. During the Civil War cannons were | | | | the underground clubs as souvenirs from her husband |
| mounted all around the island and Alcatraz became | | | | "Machine Gun" Kelly. Many historians believe that she |
| the largest American fort west of the Mississippi. | | | | was the brains behind her husbands image and many |
| The army began sending military prisoners to the fort | | | | of there successful bank robberies. |
| on Alcatraz Island in 1860 and for many years after | | | | Al Capone: Capone's career in crime started young |
| the Civil War the island was used more and more for | | | | and he quickly worked his way to the top. He |
| detaining prisoners. In 1907 Alcatraz was formally | | | | controlled a huge criminal empire that was bringing in |
| designated as a military prison and by 1912 a large | | | | $10 million per year back in the 1920's. Capone was |
| concrete cell block was constructed which is still | | | | convicted in 1931 for income tax evasion and sent to |
| there today. | | | | Atlanta Federal Penitentiary before being transferred |
| While under military control Alcatraz functioned mainly | | | | to Alcatraz. Capone finished his time in Alcatraz on |
| as a medium security prison. Over the years it | | | | January 6, 1939 and was transferred to Terminal |
| became too expensive to operate and the War | | | | Island in California to serve a one year misdemeanor |
| Department decided to close the prison in 1934 at | | | | sentence. From there he was released on November |
| which time the army transferred Alcatraz to the | | | | 16, 1939 and after a short hospital stay returned |
| civilian Bureau of Prisons. | | | | home to Florida. |
| In the 1920's and 30's prohibition and the Great | | | | The army began sending military prisoners to the fort |
| Depression were responsible for a steep increase in | | | | on Alcatraz Island in 1860 and for many years after |
| criminal activity. Alcatraz was where the most | | | | the Civil War the island was used more and more for |
| hardened criminals ended up. No convicts were ever | | | | detaining prisoners. In 1907 Alcatraz was formally |
| sentenced to Alcatraz, all of the inmates sent there | | | | designated as a military prison and by 1912 a large |
| were transferred there from other federal prisons. | | | | concrete cell block was constructed which is still |
| Alcatraz was now a maximum security prison with | | | | there today. |
| minimum privileges. Prisoners at Alcatraz had only four | | | | While under military control Alcatraz functioned mainly |
| rights. Food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. | | | | as a medium security prison. Over the years it |
| Everything else was considered a privilege and had to | | | | became too expensive to operate and the War |
| be earned. | | | | Department decided to close the prison in 1934 at |
| Some of Alcatraz Island's most notable residents | | | | which time the army transferred Alcatraz to the |
| included: | | | | civilian Bureau of Prisons. |
| Robert Stroud: Better known as the "Birdman of | | | | Alcatraz Finally Closes: |
| Alcatraz" Robert Stroud was transferred to Alcatraz | | | | After 29 years of operation as a federal prison |
| in 1942 from Leavenworth where he had spent the | | | | Alcatraz finally closed on March 21, 1963. It simply |
| last 30 years. Stroud spent six years in segregation D | | | | cost too much to operate the facility, nearly three |
| Block and eleven years in the prison hospital. In 1959 | | | | times as much as other federal prisons. Being an |
| he was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal | | | | island, everything had to be shipped food, clothing, |
| Prisoners in Springfield Missouri where he eventually | | | | supplies, even fresh water. The federal government |
| died of natural causes in 1963. | | | | determined it was more cost effective to build a |
| George "Machine Gun" Kelly: George R. Kelly was | | | | new facility than to keep Alcatraz open. |
| transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 from Leavenworth in | | | | In 1972 Congress established the Golden Gate |
| Kansas. At just 19 years old, Kelly had separated | | | | National Recreation Area and Alcatraz Island was |
| from his first wife and then got involved in | | | | included as a part of it. In October of 1973 Alcatraz |
| bootlegging. Before long he was making a name for | | | | was opened to the public for the first time and |
| himself as a gangster. When he met his second wife, | | | | interest has continued to grow over the years. Each |
| Katheryn Thorne who was also a seasoned criminal, | | | | year more than 1.3 million people visit the island. |