| The federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island was once | | | | Attorney General Robert Kennedy ordered Alcatraz |
| home to America's most notorious criminals such as Al | | | | closed in early 1963 due to increased maintenance and |
| "Scarface' Capone and the "Birdman" Robert Stroud. | | | | operational costs. It was replaced by a new |
| The prison was in operation from 1934 to 1963 and to | | | | maximum-security federal prison in Marion, Illinois. The |
| this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's | | | | "super max" institution of today is located at Florence, |
| most legendary prisons. How would you like to add this | | | | Colorado. The official name is "Alcatraz of the |
| destination to your list of vacation ideas? | | | | Rockies." |
| Alcatraz was opened up to the public for the first time | | | | Visiting Alcatraz Island as a Tourist destination |
| in October 1973 by the National Park Service. Before | | | | There are several tours available through the official |
| this time, visitors had not been allowed on the island. | | | | Alcatraz Tours to Alcatraz Island. |
| More than 50,000 people visited Alcatraz during the | | | | Tours include:o Early Bird Day Tour: Their most |
| first year it was open. More than 1.3 million visitors | | | | complete tour having the least crowds. You can |
| travel to Alcatraz Island each year. | | | | experience the cellhouse, and explore the island. This |
| Alcatraz was originally designed to serve as America's | | | | tour combines Alcatraz and Angel Island.o The |
| first maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary. | | | | award-winning Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour consists |
| This is referred to today as a "super max" institution. | | | | of the actual voices of correctional officers and |
| Alcatraz housed some of America's most notorious | | | | inmates who lived on the island during the infamous |
| offenders, escape artists, gang leaders and general | | | | Federal Penitentiary era. You can hear stories of |
| trouble makers. These people were held under the | | | | escape attempts, "The Battle of '46", food riots, and |
| most secure and regimented conditions. The | | | | surviving solitary confinement. This tour is available in |
| environment on a rocky island in the middle of San | | | | English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, |
| Francisco Bay was virtually escape-proof. For the men | | | | Dutch and Mandarin.o Guided tours generally last 45 |
| sent there, Alcatraz was the end of the line. It was | | | | minutes to an hour and may involve walking moderate |
| also sometimes called the "prison within the prison | | | | distances. |
| system." The inmates sent there were transferred | | | | While on Alcatraz Island you can also enjoy the views |
| from other federal prisons. The courts could not | | | | of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Alcatraz Night Tour is |
| sentence anyone to Alcatraz. The Rock was a place | | | | unique and limited to a few hundred visitors per |
| where the BOP sent its most troublesome prisoners. | | | | evening. It includes special programs, tours and |
| The average stay was five years, at which time, | | | | activities not offered in the day tours. |
| prisoners were safely returned to a lower-security | | | | If you plan on adding Alcatraz to your vacation ideas, |
| institution. | | | | you can call 415-981-ROCK for more information. |
| During the entire time Alcatraz was in operation, 36 | | | | Source: Alcatraz Island Cruises |
| prisoners were involved in 14 separate escape | | | | Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource |
| attempts. Twenty-three were caught. Six of these | | | | box of this article is not associated with Alcatraz Island |
| prisoners were shot and killed. Two of the prisoners | | | | Cruises or any of its employees. This article and web |
| drowned. There were also five convicts who | | | | site are offered as resources to help you formulate |
| disappeared and were never seen again. The odds | | | | vacation ideas. We do not promote Alcatraz Island |
| are they drowned and their bodies were never | | | | Crusies. |
| recovered. | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. |