Alcatraz 101: Questions and Answers About The Rock

Alcatraz Island sits in San Francisco Bay, and for many people its name stands for the toughest prison in America. Behind the legend is a layered history: a fort, an army jail, a federal penitentiary that held about 250 men at a time, a Native American occupation, and finally a national park. This site is an organised set of answers to the questions people most often ask about it, grouped by theme.

Where to start

The island and its early years
– Welcome to The Rock covers how the island looks today, where its name came from and the first lighthouse on the Pacific coast.
– The U.S. Army on Alcatraz explains the fort, the military prison and the handover.

The federal penitentiary
– The penitentiary opens describes why the government chose Alcatraz in 1934 and who was sent.
– Facts and figures gives population, length of stay, uniforms and the daily timetable.
– Famous inmates separates the real names from the myths.
– Wardens and guards looks at the people who ran the place.

Life inside
– Maximum custody and minimum privileges explain the rules.
– The mess hall, medical attention and solitary confinement show the details of daily existence.
– Times change traces how conditions eased.

Trouble and endings
– Escapes and riots and strikes cover the most dramatic episodes, including the 1946 Battle of Alcatraz and the 1962 escape.
– Alcatraz closes gives the reasons for the 1963 shutdown.
– The Indian Occupation describes what followed.

About this resource

The pages are informational summaries based on archived material about the subject. They are not an official site of the National Park Service or any tour operator, and they do not offer tickets or bookings. Readers who plan a visit should check current details with the park itself.