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The island started as a military fort in the 1800s, then became a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Some of America’s most famous criminals were held there, including Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. The cells are tiny, the conditions were tough, and the isolation was the real punishment.

There were 14 escape attempts involving 36 inmates over the years, but the most famous was in 1962 when three men disappeared after digging out of their cells with spoons and making a raft from raincoats. No one knows for sure if they survived the swim.

After the prison closed, the island was occupied by Native American activists in 1969 for 19 months, which became an important moment in Indigenous rights history.

Now it’s a national park, and honestly the views of San Francisco from the island are incredible. Definitely worth the visit.En savoir plus