Secrets of Alcatraz
The Dark Secrets of Alcatraz
Although Alcatraz gained a reputation as the toughest prison in the U.S. due to brutally inhumane conditions—that wasn’t the reason the prison was ultimately shut down.
From its shady history and controversial conditions to its famous inmates and their harrowing efforts to escape, let’s dive into Alcatraz’s darkest secrets.
The Location
Alcatraz Island is a small island located 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California. It’s made up of about 22 acres of mostly rock, with very little vegetation.
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The Nickname
In fact, a surveyor didn’t believe the land was even suitable to build on in the first place. Because of its treacherous terrain, Alcatraz Island earned the nickname, “The Rock.”
However, the translation of “Alcatraz” is something far different.
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The Discovery
The island of Alcatraz was first discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. Upon his arrival, he named the giant rock, “La Isla de los Alcatraces”—which translates to Island of the Pelicans. Over time, it was Anglicized to Alcatraz.
That’s not the only thing that changed over time, though.
Land Ownership
Before Alcatraz Island belonged to the US, it was actually part of Mexico. Prior to the US-Mexican war in 1846–1848, San Francisco and its many islands were part of Mexico.
It was only following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, where the two countries redrew their borders, that Alcatraz became a part of the modern United States of America.
