Alcatraz Water Tower - required as no fresh water source on the island

First station for new inmates - showers. No privacy

And then kitted out in blue overalls of the prison

All cells in Alcatraz were individual cells

Alcatraz Cellhouse had space for about 600 prisoners. But was never used to capacity

Prison Library - prisoners who behaved well could ask for books to read.

Visitation center. Note the small hole next to the window to allow touch

Escapees created fake heads and dug holes in wall with spoons

Decoy of the three escapees (fake heads made from soap and cement) and escape route.

Alcatraz - must see attraction

August 29, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

Spent most of the day on Alcatraz learning about the history of the island - morphing from a location of a lighthouse (during the gold rush in California in 1848/1849) to a strategic fortification as part of the US Army western defense plan (from 1864).

Alcatraz was a prison pretty much from the start, initially for soldiers until the army decommissioned Alcatraz un 1907.
In the 1930s, the island became the place for a high-profile, maximum-security facility it is known as. Some 1500 men did time on Alcatraz but only a handful were notorious. Most of the inmates were men who had proved to be problems in other prisons.

There were 14 attempted escapes, the best known occured in June 1962, when Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Angkin slipped into the water.
Chris, a tour guide we met in Los Angeles was telling us about this personal childhood memory living in San Francisco Bay area as a 5 year old at the time of the escape and how scared he was that the prisoners might get to him at night.

Really enjoyed the audio-guided tour. All very atmospheric especially as it included voices from the actual inmates.

Reminded me a little of Port Arthur in Tasmania. .Read more