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San Francisco Facts - the Fascinating History of Alcatraz

Everyone knows Alcatraz as the islandexpensive to operate and the War
prison in the San Francisco Bay butDepartment decided to close the prison
Alcatraz has a long history that reachesin 1934 at which time the army
back further than its days as a federaltransferred Alcatraz to the civilian
penitentiary. In 1853 the Army Corps ofBureau of Prisons.
Engineers began a project to fortify the
island. When the project was completed 5After 29 years of operation as a federal
years later the first soldiers arrivedprison Alcatraz finally closed on March
there. During the Civil War cannons were21, 1963. It simply cost too much to
mounted all around the island andoperate the facility, nearly three times
Alcatraz became the largest Americanas much as other federal prisons. Being
fort west of the Mississippi.an island, everything had to be shipped
The army began sending militaryfood, clothing, supplies, even fresh
prisoners to the fort on Alcatraz Islandwater. The federal government determined
in 1860 and for many years after theit was more cost effective to build a
Civil War the island was used more andnew facility than to keep Alcatraz open.
more for detaining prisoners. In 1907In 1972 Congress established the Golden
Alcatraz was formally designated as aGate National Recreation Area and
military prison and by 1912 a largeAlcatraz Island was included as a part
concrete cell block was constructedof it. In October of 1973 Alcatraz was
which is still there today.opened to the public for the first time
While under military control Alcatrazand interest has continued to grow over
functioned mainly as a medium securitythe years. Each year more than 1.3
prison. Over the years it became toomillion people visit the island.
expensive to operate and the WarAlcatraz Finally Closes
Department decided to close the prisonRobert Stroud: Better known as the
in 1934 at which time the army"Birdman of Alcatraz" Robert
transferred Alcatraz to the civilianStroud was transferred to Alcatraz in
Bureau of Prisons.1942 from Leavenworth where he had spent
In the 1920's and 30's prohibition andthe last 30 years. Stroud spent six
the Great Depression were responsibleyears in segregation D Block and eleven
for a steep increase in criminalyears in the prison hospital. In 1959 he
activity. Alcatraz was where the mostwas transferred to the Medical Center
hardened criminals ended up. No convictsfor Federal Prisoners in Springfield
were ever sentenced to Alcatraz, all ofMissouri where he eventually died of
the inmates sent there were transferrednatural causes in 1963.
there from other federal prisons.George "Machine Gun" Kelly:
Alcatraz was now a maximum securityGeorge R. Kelly was transferred to
prison with minimum privileges.Alcatraz in 1934 from Leavenworth in
Prisoners at Alcatraz had only fourKansas. At just 19 years old, Kelly had
rights. Food, clothing, shelter, andseparated from his first wife and then
medical care. Everything else wasgot involved in bootlegging. Before long
considered a privilege and had to behe was making a name for himself as a
earned.gangster. When he met his second wife,
Some of Alcatraz Island's most notableKatheryn Thorne who was also a seasoned
residents included:criminal, the pair really started to
pursue their careers and criminals not
The army began sending militaryonly as bootleggers but as bank robbers
prisoners to the fort on Alcatraz Islandand kidnappers. The nickname
in 1860 and for many years after the"Machine Gun" Kelly actually
Civil War the island was used more andcame from his wife Katheryn. She
more for detaining prisoners. In 1907purchased a machine gun for her husband
Alcatraz was formally designated as aand was making a name for him by passing
military prison and by 1912 a largeout spent cartridge shells at the
concrete cell block was constructedunderground clubs as souvenirs from her
which is still there today.husband "Machine Gun" Kelly.
While under military control AlcatrazMany historians believe that she was the
functioned mainly as a medium securitybrains behind her husbands image and
prison. Over the years it became toomany of there successful bank robberies.



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