Alcatraz, America's notorious "rock" star

Rock of ages

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Alcatraz pictured in 1938. The "Rock" served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 until 1963.

2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Mearl Anglin Taylor (right), and her sister Marie Anglin Widner pictured in 2012 discussing their brothers' escape from Alcatraz Island. Both said they believe the brothers survived the June 11, 1962 escape.

Welcome to Alcatraz

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions.

A fascinating exhibition

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Modernized in 1934 to meet the requirements of a high security prison, some of America's most ruthless criminals were imprisoned here, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

Authentic experience

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Tours of the prison take in all the buildings. This is the infirmary, where sick and injured inmates were sent. It's located in the Main Cell House.

Operations hub

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

The control center as it would have looked some 60 years ago.

The Alcatraz siege

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Also known as the "Alcatraz Blastout," the most violent escape attempt occurred on May 2–4, 1946.

Island infrastructure

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Interior view of the New Industries Building, located on the western end of Alcatraz Island.

The cellhouse

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Refurbished cells in D-Block.

Prison complex

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Alcatraz Island, developed with facilities for lighthouse, fortification, and prison, is now a national recreational area and a National Historic Landmark.

Art imitating life

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Clint Eastwood famously played Frank Morris in 'Escape from Alcatraz' (1979). The film depicted events leading up to and during the breakout.

Ruins of the Warden's House

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

James Johnston was the first warden of Alcatraz. He was succeeded by Edwin Swope and later, Paul Madigan. The fourth and last warden was Olin Blackwell. He was on leave during the daring 1962 breakout.

The exercise yard

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

The facility looks exactly the same as it did when the prison first opened.

Alcatraz in the 20th century

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

The same view in 1940.

The prison grounds

Rock of ages, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of the arguably successful breakout, Welcome to Alcatraz, A fascinating exhibition, Authentic experience, Operations hub, The Alcatraz siege, Island infrastructure, The cellhouse, Prison complex, Art imitating life, Ruins of the Warden's House, The exercise yard, Alcatraz in the 20th century, The prison grounds

Extensive refurbishment has transformed the appearance of Alcatraz Island, but not to the detriment of the original layout.

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