Its name came from Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala in
1775: La Isla de los Alcatraces or "Island of the Pelicans."
In 1850, US President
Fillmore converted the island to military use. A fortress was
built, cannons were installed, and the West Coast's first
operational lighthouse was constructed.
The US Army also began
to use Alcatraz to house military prisoners. It was the perfect
spot for a prison, because it was isolated and everyone assumed
no prisoner could successfully escape by swimming across the
frigid waters of San Francisco Bay.
During the early 1900s,
military prisoners helped to build a new, 600-cell jail, as well
as a hospital, cafeteria, and other prison buildings. Over time
Alcatraz was transferred to the US Justice Department for use as
a federal prison for prisoners too dangerous to be kept at other
penitentiaries. Alcatraz usually held between 260-275 prisoners.
Each prisoner had his own cell, and there was one guard for
about every three prisoners.
There were 14 known
escape attempts involving 36 prisoners. Of those attempting to
escape, 23 were captured, six were shot and killed during their
attempt, two drowned, and five went missing and were officially
presumed dead.
Alcatraz was shut down
during 1963, because it was too expensive to keep operating. Now
it is thriving again as a tourist attraction.