▲Prison mug shots of convicts (left-right) Frank Lee Morris, Clarence Anglin and John Anglin. The bottom-row images are computer generated to reflect what the escapees might look like today.

▲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.

▲One of the original cells, purposefully designed so that none of them adjoined an outside wall, typically measured 9 ft by 5 ft, and 7 ft high.

▲John Anglin's cell preserved for posterity at the former Alcatraz Island federal prison. The bunk features a replica of the papier-mâché dummies made with human hair stolen from the barbershop.

▲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.

▲Several films have featured the infamous prison. A notable movie is the biographical drama 'Birdman from Alcatraz' (1962), starring Burt Lancaster as inmate Robert Stroud.

▲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 penitentiary gardens are still tended to today, and provide vivid contrast against the stark prison cell blocks.

▲The refurbished cells can be explored by visitors.

▲The Library inside the cellhouse on Block D.

▲The prison facilities have undergone careful refurbishment, but much of the interior retains its original architectural features.

▲The same view in 1940.

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

▲The view from a prison cell window across the bay to San Francisco.

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

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

▲Refurbished cells in D-Block.

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

▲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.

▲The reception area and dressing room, where new arrivals would be issued with standard prison uniforms.

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

▲The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison.

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

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

▲Today, Alcatraz is an engaging tourist attraction. The museum exhibits include objects made by notorious inmates, historic photographs and documents, escape materials, and the original papier-mâché dummy heads made by the 1962 escapees.

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"The Rock" seen from San Francisco's Telegraph Hill and North Beach neighborhoods. Today, 1.5 million visitors escape to Alcatraz annually.

▲The action thriller film 'The Rock' (1996) starred Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

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

▲A view of "The Rock" from San Francisco.

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

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Alcatraz has caught the public's imagination for almost a century. In this gallery, discover the intriguing, sometimes violent, history of the former island penitentiary.

Alcatraz, America's notorious "rock" star

The infamous 1962 escape from Alcatraz still captivates, and it's just one reason to visit this fascinating tourist attraction

27/08/24 por StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Prison

Alcatraz has caught the public's imagination for almost a century. In this gallery, discover the intriguing, sometimes violent, history of the former island penitentiary.