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