|
Alcatraz
Prison in 1895
|
Alcatraz Prison
History Facts for kids: FAQ's
Fast, fun
facts and Frequently Asked Questions about Alcatraz
Prison History.
● Where is
Alcatraz Prison located? San Francisco
Bay, California
● How many
escape attempts were there? There
were 14 escape attempts made by
a total of 36 inmates.
● What are
the names of famous prisoners? Famous
inmates include
Al Capone, George "Machine-Gun"
Kelly, Robert Stroud, the Birdman
of Alcatraz" and Alvin Karpis, the
first Public Enemy Number One
● When was
the first prison building constructed?
In 1853 when the Citadel was first
used as a prison.
● Why did Alcatraz
Prison close? Alcatraz Prison closed
in xx because facilities were deteriorating
and the prison cost much more to
operate than other prisons - $10
per prisoner per day (other prisons
were $3)
Alcatraz Prison History Facts
and Info for kids: Brief Facts for kids via the Fact Sheet
Interesting description and
brief facts about the Alcatraz Prison History are detailed
in the following Fact Sheet. The Alcatraz Prison History
Facts are presented in a factual sequence consisting of
a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating
the interesting history, and information about the Alcatraz
Prison History.
Alcatraz Prison History Facts for Kids
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 1:
Native Americans were
the first inhabitants of Alcatraz Island
from about 4000 B.C.E. They belonged to
the Muwekma Ohlone tribe, a Native American
people of the California coast.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 2:
The island had a bad
reputation as the home of evil spirits and
was believed to be a burial ground and a
place of banishment for Native American
outcasts.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 3:
The island was named
in 1775 by the Spanish explorer Juan
Manuel de Ayala. He called it 'La Isla de
los Alcatraces' which means 'Island of the
Pelicans'.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 4:
In 1848 California became
part of the United States at the end of
the Mexican-American War - Americans continued
the old legends of the island due to its
cold isolation and eerie atmosphere.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 5:
In 1850 the island was
designated part of a "Triangle of Defense"
to guard San Francisco Bay. Forts were planned
to be built on Alcatraz Island, Fort Point,
and Lime Point.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 6:
The fortress was built
on the island in 1853. Workers blasted steep
walls around the island and cannons were
put in place
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 7:
In 1854 the first lighthouse
on the West Coast of California was built
on the island.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 8:
By 1859 a three-story
citadel was constructed atop of the island.
The Citadel could only be accessed via a
drawbridge over a deep, dry moat. The Citadel
served as an armed barracks and a last line
of defense for the island.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 9:
The fortified island
and the Citadel were used by the Union Army
during the Civil War (1861 - 1865).
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 10:
In 1861, Alcatraz was
officially designated a military prison.
Army prisoners constructed more prison facilities
referred to as the 'Lower Prison'.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 11:
During the Spanish-American
War (April 25, 1898 – August 12, 1898) the
prison population grew from 25 to 441 inmates.
The 'Upper Prison' was hastily built consisting
of 3 wooden, two-tiered cell houses.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 12:
In 1907 the island was
re-designated the "Pacific Branch, U.S.
Military Prison, Alcatraz Island".
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 13:
The future of Alcatraz
was as a military prison and not as a defense
site. Army prisoners demolished the citadel
and built a huge cell house over the site
of the citadel and moat.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 14:
The wooden buildings
were replaced with new concrete buildings.
The complex consisted of four cellblocks,
hospital, a dining room, a kitchen,
recreation yard and offices.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 15:
The new Alcatraz Prison
construction was completed in 1912.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 16:
The barracks were eventually
acquired by the United States Department
of Justice on October 12, 1933
Alcatraz Prison History Fact 17:
The island became part
of Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934.
Our next fact sheet details facts and stats
about the notorious Federal penitentiary.
Continued...
Alcatraz Prison History Facts for Kids
Alcatraz Prison History
for kids
The info about the Alcatraz Prison History
provides interesting facts and important information about
this important event that occured during the presidency
of the 27th President of the United States of America.
Alcatraz Prison History Facts
for Kids
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
18:
The notorious,
high security penitentiary would
be in operation for the next
29 years and Alcatraz Prison
would be the destination of
many murderers, gangsters and
bank robbers.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
19:
Alcatraz
Prison consisted of four cellblocks.
The two innermost cellblocks,
B Block and C Block, held the
336 cells and stood three tiers
high:
● The
A block was generally used
as a storage facility and
for offices, but on rare
occasions was used to house
prisoners who needed to
be fully isolated from other
inmates
● The
B block and C block held
prisoners
● The
D block housed 36 segregation
cells, and 6 solitary confinement
cells - the isolation and
punishment cells
● The
library was also located
in Block D
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
20:
The prisoners
gave nicknames to the long,
green painted, highly polished
concrete walkways or corridors
between the cell blocks. The
names were those of American
streets and landmarks such as
Michigan Avenue, Broadway, Time
Square, Park Avenue and Sunset
Strip.
● The
name given to the corridor
between "A" block and "B"
block was Michigan Avenue
● The
central walkway, between
cell blocks B and C, was
nicknamed Broadway
● The
area between the dining
hall and the cell blocks
was called Times Square
● The
corridor between C Block
and the library was called
Park Avenue
● The
corridor in D Block was
named Sunset Strip
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
21:
Gun galleries
lay at the end of each block,
these were multi-level corridors
and walkways enclosed in bars
and mesh that were patrolled
by armed guards
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
22:
A total of
1,576 prisoners were incarcerated
during its time as a Federal
Penitentiary. The first batch
of 137 prisoners arrived at
9:40 am on August 11, 1934
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
23:
New inmates
to Alcatraz Prison started out
on "Fish Row" in the floor-level
cells called "the flats"
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
24:
How big were
the cells? The cells in B &
C block measured 5 feet by 9
feet. Each cell was equipped
with a small sink with cold
running water, a small bunk,
a shelf, a folding steel table
and chair and a toilet. There
was only one prisoner per cell.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
25:
In the mornings,
every prisoner dressed, cleaned
his cell, and stood ready for
the first head count. All prisoners
had to be clean shaven - no
beards or moustaches were allowed.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
26:
Prisoners
were allowed two showers per
week and a change of clothes.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
27:
The prisoners
only had four other rights:
Food, medical attention, shelter
and clothing. Everything else
had to be earned, including
visits.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
28:
Prisoners
were allowed approved visitors
for one and a half hours per
month. Visitors were close family
members, over 16 years old and
without a criminal record. They
were separated by a toughened
glass screen, no physical contact
was allowed and they spoke via
a telephone
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
29:
All conversations
were strictly monitored. Prisoners
were not allowed to talk about
their life in the 'Pen' and
visitors were not allowed to
talk about current affairs
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
30:
Prisoners
were allowed to send and receive
letters. All mail was vetted
and censored.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
31:
Their daily
life in Alcatraz Prison centered
around work in the kitchen or
laundry and lights went out
at 9.30pm. Inmates spent at
least 14 hours a day in their
cells
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
32:
No newspapers,
radio or television was allowed.
Their reading material was censored
and extremely limited.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
33:
The average
length of stay was eight years.
The penitentiary initially had
a staff of 155. The maximum
numbers of prisoners at any
one time numbered 202
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
34:
James A.
Johnston was the first of four
wardens at Alcatraz from 1934
to 1948. He was a hard disciplinarian
and imposed stringent rules:
● He
insisted on one guard for
every three prisoners (other
prisons averaged one guard
for 12 prisoners)
● Inmates
gave him the nickname of
"Old Saltwater"
● He
wrote "Prison Life
is Different" detailing
his experiences as warden
● He
sanctioned punishments including
the use of strait jackets
and solitary confinement
in darkness
● James
A. Johnston imposed the
controversial "Silent System".
Conversation between prisoners
was banned. The "Silent
System" was enforced for
4 years, then stopped as
it was sending prisoners
insane
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
35:
Cell Block
D was the most notorious of
al the blocks in Alcatraz Prison.
It was referred to as the special
treatment unit, where prisoners
were either segregated or placed
in isolation and solitary confinement.
.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
36:
The Hole:
Five of the cells on the bottom
tier of Cell Block D were earned
the nickname of "The Hole".
These dingy cells had a sink,
a toilet and a solid steel door
with a small opening to push
food through. There was no human
contact whatsoever, no form
of reading was allowed - all
there was was boredom. Prisoners
were given a mattress to sleep
on at night but this was removed
during the day. Prisoners could
be kept in the "Hole" for up
to 19 days.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
37:
The Strip
Cell: The "Strip Cell" was even
worse. There was no bed, sink,
or toilet - the prisoners had
to make do with a hole in the
floor. They had no clothes,
no blanket and no light. It
was cold and dark - prisoners
were usually kept in the strip
cell for two days - but sometimes
this was exceeded.
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
38:
Facts and
Stats on Alcatraz Prison history:
● 8
people were murdered by
inmates
● 15
prisoners from natural illnesses
● 4
of the 42 cells in block
D are said to be haunted
● No
executions ever took place
on the island
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
39:
Facts about
attempts to escape from Alcatraz
island:
● 36
prisoners were involved
attempts to escape from
Alcatraz Prison
● 21
were captured and returned
alive
● 7
inmates were shot and killed
trying to escape
● 2
were returned and subsequently
executed
● 5
prisoners, from two separate
escape attempts, managed
to escape from the island
● ● Theodore
Cole and Ralph Roe disappeared
in 1937
● ● Frank
Morris and Clarence
Anglin and John Anglin
disappeared in 1962
● ● The
FBI were unable to determine
whether the 3 men successfully
escaped or died in the
attempt
● John
Paul Scott was the only
known prisoner to successfully
swim off the island in December,
1962. He was recaptured
in San Francisco almost
immediately
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
40:
Famous prisoners
incarcerated in Alcatraz Prison
were Al Capone, George "Machine-Gun"
Kelly, Robert Stroud, the Birdman
of Alcatraz" and Alvin Karpis
● The
Chicago gangster and racketeer
Al Capone who was convicted
of tax evasion and sentenced
to 11 years
● "Machine-Gun"
Kelly was an Irish-American
gangster was arrested for
bootlegging and armed robbery
and spent 17 years on the
island
● Alvin
Karpis, the first Public
Enemy Number One, was convicted
of Kidnapping, Robbery,
Burglary, Murder and spent
26 years on the island
● Robert
Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz"
was convicted of murder
and spent 17 years on the
island
Alcatraz Prison History Fact
41:
The site
is now part of the Golden Gate
National Recreation Area and
visited by many visitors and
tourists to San Francisco Bay
area - who also visit the famous
Angel Island.
Alcatraz Prison History Facts
for Kids
Alcatraz
Prison History for kids - President William Taft
Video
The article
on the Alcatraz Prison History provides
detailed facts and a summary of one of the
important events during his presidential
term in office. The following William Taft
video will give you additional important
facts and dates about the political events
experienced by the 27th American President
whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1909
to March 4, 1913.
Alcatraz Prison History
●
Interesting Facts
about Alcatraz Prison History for kids and schools
●
Summary of the
Alcatraz Prison History in US history
●
Facts about the
Alcatraz Prison History
●
Alcatraz Prison
History - Famous prisoners and escapes
●
Fast, fun facts
about the Alcatraz Prison History
●
Life and punishments
in Alcatraz Prison History
●
William Taft
Presidency and Alcatraz Prison History for schools,
homework, kids and children |
