Alcatraz Island, an island located in San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, California, has held many roles since its discovery. Alcatraz Island has served as a military prison, federal penitentiary, meeting site for Native Americans, and it is currently a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Even though the island has not served as a prison for 53 years, that is how most people remember it when they think of the island. The history of Alcatraz Island reveals the many changes the island went through while serving its different roles. Originally, when Spanish explorers first discovered the island in the 16th century they gave it the name Alcatraces, meaning "pelican" or "strange bird" (Finckenauer). Alcatraces later transformed into the English-favored word …show more content…
The first reported haunting, which was in 1963 or earlier, was said to include screams, crying, music, and cold spots. Before the federal prison was built there, the Miwok Indians thought that evil spirits were living on the island, and people even think that the Miwok would send tribe members to the island for punishment of breaking the rules. Visitors of the island claim that they experienced signs of paranormal activity like hearing metal clang, cries, and screams of the inmates. They also said that there was one particular cell, cell 14-D, that was cold and made them feel strong emotions. Cell 14-D held a prisoner that for over three years had no contact with anyone. Along with the cries, screams, and clanging metal, visitors also said that they could hear ghostly sounds of a banjo lingering in the shower room. Reports have said that Al Capone liked to play the banjo in the shower room (Garbe). Although these hauntings can come across as a little unsettling, they add to the significance of the island as a
The island is about 4 square miles and is today a place for tourism in the great lakes. Many thousands of years ago though this was a little piece of land with bluffs reaching high above its surroundings and was a merely a small piece of land surrounded by water. It was because of these bluffs the appearance of the island resembled a turtle and led to it being named “The Great Turtle” (Piljac, 1998). Currently the island reaches several hundred feet above the lake and it’s because of this geography that many nations saw this as a perfect military post and would be used over and over again throughout its history as such.
Santa Catalina Island, often known as Catalina Island, is located off the coast of Southern California, southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Island forms part of the Channel Islands archipelago. Catalina is the only island, out of eight, that has been significantly developed. There are two major settlement location within the island - the city of Avalon and the unincorporated town of Two Harbors (“Visit Catalina Island,” 2014). Beyond the town boundaries the island is covered by wild life that it is owned and operated by the Catalina Island Conservancy ("The Official Catalina Island Website,” 2013).
Alcatraz Island has quite a distinct history. Many people know that Alcatraz served as a federal prison, but most are reluctant to know that this island served as fort. Built before the Civil War, it served two main purposes. First, that it was to guard the San Francisco bay area from enemy ships against a foreign invasion, and second, to hold hostage prisoners of war or POW's as they were called. In this report, I'll show you how this fortress came to be a federal prison, why it is no longer in operation today, and most importantly, to show why it was built in the first place. When the great "Gold Rush" of 1849 first started, California grew from what would be considered a small, unpopulated state, into what it is now. California is now one of the most populated states and it was mostly the gold rush that brought attention to California. As the government saw all of this happening, they realized that California was much more important than they ever realized. In their realization, they decided that California must be protected. San Francisco has one of the largest bays in all of California, and so this was where enemy countries would most likely to try to invade the country. So this is where Alcatraz was to lie, to serve as a military fort. It was supposed to serve as a secondary base in companionship to another base located on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge. But with severe problems trying to build this other base, Alcatraz was to remain alone. "Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is definitely a world unto itself. Isolation is just one of the many constants of island life for any inhabitant on Alcatraz Island. It is the most reoccurring theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. Visitors to the island can not only explore the remnants of the prison, but learn of the American occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications and the West Coast's first and oldest operating lighthouse. These structures stand among the island's many natural features - gardens, tidepools, bird nests, and bay views beyond compare." (1) Fortress Alcatraz ran in operation from 1850 - 1933. It served as San Fr...
Did they escape Alcatraz or did they die in the tretrous shark infested waters? Alcatraz was the toughest prison ia all america. The worst of the worst went there. Alcatraz had had some of the biggest named criminals from Al Capone to Birdman. It had the best maximum security unit. On June 11, 1962 three man Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin were the first men to succesfuly escape the terrible Alcatraz.
On March 28, 1979, an accident happened at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The accident started due to equipment failures, but was further escalated by operator errors. Reports of the disaster showed that had the operators kept the emergency cooling systems on, this accident would’ve just been an insignificant incident. The accident caused the core of the reactor to meltdown and release radioactive gas. There weren’t any injuries or health affects due to the radiation, however, the accident scared the nation away from nuclear power for many years to come.
Some people say that the famous escape from Alcatraz was not successful and that they drowned after they got hyperthermia. So that some people say that they drowned but how would that raft and paddles wash up on the shore right next to each other. So there’s proving a little point but here’s more information about how they could have been the three to escape Alcatraz.
Three men go down in history as the escapees of the “most notorious escapees” of the “inescapable” Alcatraz prison located on the San Francisco Bay, in California. On an island two miles away from the bay, with rushing currents no one had escaped successfully prior to Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin (also referred to as the Anglin Brothers). The prison staff reasoned that by being the only prison to offer hot water showers, inmates would be acclimated to hot water, therefore escapees could not tolerate the freezing waters of the bay, in turn they would be unsuccessful. However, this was proven otherwise by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, as they would dig through prison vents, build a boat, make decoys and swim to freedom.
“There are 14 known attempts to escape form Alcatraz, involving 36 inmates. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says that 23 were captured, six were shot and killed during their attempts getaways, two drowned and five went missing and were presumed dead.” (Unknown)
On Alcatraz, there were two prisons, and neither have withstood the catechization of time. Moreover, the first prison on Alcatraz was built, but seldom used for its sole purpose. This first prison was decommissioned before Johnston was building the much more ameliorate prison over the top of the old one. After the prison was finished with being fabricated, Johnston handpicked the best, most incomparable guards from around the United States from other prisons. And that’s when Alcatraz was just in a genesis state with nullity
The Big Apple is really starting to heat up with summer activities and events this weekend! From parades to food festivals to art shows and everything else in between, there’s definitely something for everyone this weekend in NYC. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the top events and activities to enjoy for the weekend of June 17 – 18 in New York City!
There was a huge amount of security there because of all the criminals, the three top ones were Roy Gardner, Al Capone, and Robert Stroud. Roy was known for being a bank robber, he stole $350,000 in cash. Al Capone was known for being the most famous gangster and for being a master manipulator. Robert was known for being the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Because they were those top three and more dangerous people there, they needed better security guards so they don't escape and hurt others. Then Homer C. Cummings asked for the best of the best so he hired people from across the world, and said they can live in the apartments with their family if they agree to stay on the island, and help with keeping the inmates in.
Thirty-six inmates participated in these attempts and ten lost their lives because of it. Alcatraz has always been known for its strict security. The location of Alcatraz was one of the biggest problem the inmates faced when trying to escape. Right in the middle of the frigid waters of San Francisco, one-and-a-half miles from shore, was where the high-security prison laid. If the prisoner was able to somehow break out of his cell, allude the prison guards, and make it outside without being spotted by any of the watch towers, he would still face another impossible dilemma. Several escape attempts were foiled by the frosty water, such as John Richard Bayless’s plan to swim to shore, but gave up the struggle in a matter of moments. The only confirmed statement of a prisoner being able to swim to the San Francisco shores was John Paul Scott, who attempted his escape in 1962. He was found the next day by a group of teenagers, and was taken to a hospital. He had been diagnosed with hypothermia and was unable to make a full escape, due to the hardship the sickness caused
Have you ever seen trash island? This is an island that is made out of non-biodegradable plastic and other trash. It floats in the Pacific ocean about 100 miles from the coast of California. The objects that float in the island cause a huge threat to wildlife including sea turtles and sharks. This has already caused a mass extinction in some types of plankton and fish. Today it is a huge problem. Will there ever be a solution?
Alcatraz or also know as the rock did not actually start of as a high security prison it served the purpose lighthouse.Alcatraz was built in 1934 and located off the shore of san francisco on a island in the san francisco bay. Alcatraz was only in service for as long as 29 years. the primary reason it closed was money. this was an issue was because alcatraz was on an island and everything they needed to be shipped there. Another reason was because they had to create their own electricity for the prison
Alcatraz Island is located near the coast of San Francisco, California, USA. The Island had prison facilities that were used as a military prison in 1868, and then as a federal prison from 1933 to 1963.