On Aug. 11, 1934, several federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrive at Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz is a 22-acre rocky outcrop about 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay.

Alcatraz was fortified into a high-security federal penitentiary designed to hold the most dangerous prisoners in the U.S. penal system in 1934. Later that month, more shiploads arrived, featuring, among other convicts, infamous mobster Al Capone. In September, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, also landed on Alcatraz.

According to an article on history.com, the convicts were the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary. They joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala explored the uninhabited island in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” The Spanish fortified Alcatraz and then sold to the United States in 1849. The Island housed the first lighthouse on the coast of California in 1854. A United States Army detachment was stationed at Alcatraz beginning in 1859 and beginning in 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals.

According to the article on history.com, “In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.”

Although the bodies were never recovered, it’s believed some prisoners who tried to escape drowned in San Francisco Bay. There are no known successful escape attempts from Alcatraz. Prisoners were either caught or believed to have drowned.

The article states, “In 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered Alcatraz closed, citing the high expense of its maintenance. In its 29-year run, Alcatraz housed more than 1,500 convicts. In March 1964 a group of Sioux Indians briefly occupied the island, citing an 1868 treaty with the Sioux allowing Indians to claim any ‘unoccupied government land.’ In November 1969, a group of nearly 100 Native American students and activists began a more prolonged occupation of the island, remaining there until they were forced off by federal marshals in June 1971.”

In 1972, Alcatraz was opened to the public as part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is maintained by the National Park Service. More than one million tourists visit Alcatraz Island and the former prison annually.

10 interesting facts about Alcatraz: 1. Al Capone played banjo in the inmate band.

2. There were no confirmed prisoner escapes from Alcatraz.

3. Alcatraz is named for sea birds.

4. The “Birdman of Alcatraz” had no birds in the prison.

5. After the prison stood dormant for six years, Native American activists occupied Alcatraz.

6. Military prisoners were Alcatraz’s first inmates.

7. Alcatraz was home to the Pacific Coast’s first lighthouse.

8. The country’s worst criminals were not automatically shipped to Alcatraz.

9. It was possible to swim to shore.

10. Inmates requested transfers to Alcatraz.

To read more about Alcatraz Island, visit https://www. history.com/this-day-in-history/ federal-prisoners-landon- alcatraz or https://www. history.com/news/10-thingsyou- may-not-know-aboutalcatraz.