The cold waters that surrounded the island made it an ideal place to hold criminals because there was simply no way that one could escape and swim across the bay - it was much too cold. In the late 1850s, Alcatraz became a place to hold prisoners. Over 100 cannons were installed around the island so that this military base would be able to protect the San Francisco Bay. During the 1850s, a fortress was constructed on Alcatraz island. Nearly 75 years after this initial discovery, President Millard Fillmore signed an order that reserved this island for military use. He named it La Isla de la Alcatraces, which translates to Island of the Pelicans. Keep reading to learn more about this federal prison and some of the stories that have been carried on since its closing.Īlcatraz Island was discovered and mapped out in 1775 by a Spanish explorer by the name of Juan Maunuel de Ayala. During the years of operation, dozens of escape attempts were made, with each attempt as curious as the next. This prison housed some serious criminals, so we can only imagine the stories that are housed within these walls. Some of the most notable criminals included Rober “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud, Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and John and Clarence Anglin. With that being said, from 1934 to 1963, when this federal prison was open, it was only the most dangerous of criminals that were kept here. While Alcatraz is a prison that just about everyone has heard of, it was only open for roughly 30 years. This federal prison is located on Alcatraz island, in the bay alongside San Francisco. Alcatraz is known for housing some of America’s worst criminals.
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