17 Fun and Weird Facts about Alcatraz Island and Prison

1) Alcatraz was a military outpost before it became a prison

Back in the 1850s, the U.S. government outfitted the island with 100 cannons in an effort to ward off foreign invaders looking to cash in on the Gold Rush. Later, they were used to strongly discourage the Confederates from seizing control of California.

Visitor takeaway: When you’re standing out there, you’re not just on “prison island”—you’re on an old Bay defense fort with Gold Rush-era roots.

2) The first lighthouse on the West Coast was built here

Before it became a prison, the first lighthouse on the West Coast was built on Alcatraz in 1852. After the earthquake of 1906 destroyed the original structure, a stronger one was built that is still in use today.

Visitor takeaway: That lighthouse isn’t just scenery—it’s a working reminder that Alcatraz mattered to ships long before inmates.

3) Inmates were forced to build their own prison

Once the U.S. Army left the island, the base was deconstructed, leaving only the basement foundation. Military prisoners were then put to work to build a structure to be used as disciplinary barracks for the West Coast.

Visitor takeaway: Some of what you’re seeing was physically built by prisoners—Alcatraz’s story is literally in the concrete.

4) Alcatraz wasn’t all that bad

The general consensus is that Alcatraz prison housed only the worst of the worst criminals. Not so. Due to its strict schedule and segregation practices, prisoners were often given their own cell. This greatly reduced the violence other prisons often experienced.

Visitor takeaway: Alcatraz’s “toughness” was often about control and isolation—not constant fighting.

5) They even had hot showers

One ‘luxury’ of Alcatraz prison was that inmates had access to nice hot water for showers.

Visitor takeaway: This little detail surprises people—and makes prison life feel more real (and more complicated) than the Hollywood version.

6) The kitchen was considered the best in the Federal prison system

Alcatraz inmates had plenty of good food with a balanced diet and three meals a day. Because of all these ‘luxuries,’ it is thought that prisoners would be too lazy and fat to face the frigid waters of the bay for escape.

Visitor takeaway: Food wasn’t kindness—it was strategy, designed to keep order and reduce escape motivation.

7) But then again… the rules could be brutally strict

During the 1930s, prisoners were not allowed to speak to each other apart from mealtimes and recreation breaks. Failure to abide by this resulted in strict military punishment and the practice was eventually revoked for being too cruel.

Visitor takeaway: The silence rule is one of the quickest ways to understand how intense psychological control was on The Rock.

8) And yet some tried to escape

We all know the odds of a successful escape from Alcatraz, due to the heavy guarding protocol and frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. Out of 36 men who tried to flee during 1934 – 1963, only 5 apparently vanished – maybe they drowned or perhaps made it to shore.

Visitor takeaway: This is the mystery that keeps Alcatraz famous—those “vanished” names are why people still argue about escapes today.

9) Prisoners earned their keep

Some prisoners had jobs in the kitchen, the laundry room, or tending the docks and actually earned between 5 – 12 cents an hour.

Visitor takeaway: Alcatraz ran like a strict little machine—jobs, routines, and rules kept everything moving.

10) Softball was a regular pastime

Another reason why Alcatraz wasn’t completely barbaric is that prisoners did have the opportunity for physical exercise, and softball was a popular outlet.

Visitor takeaway: Recreation was part of the control system—structured outlets helped prevent chaos.

11) Al Capone was an Alcatraz prisoner

The most infamous gangster in American history did time here, along with Machine Gun Kelly. Capone even played banjo in the prison band.

Visitor takeaway: This is where big-time legends became regular inmates—same rules, same routine, same walls.

12) Guards lived on the island with their families

What was once Civil War barracks became housing for Alcatraz’s workers and their families. Families had separate facilities with a pool and bowling and often left the island for Marin County to stock up on supplies and groceries.

Visitor takeaway: It’s wild to picture kids and families living here—Alcatraz was part prison, part remote neighborhood.

13) Alcatraz shut down in 1963 due to finances

Because of its location in the frigid bay and the saltwater conditions, the prison became too costly to maintain. The issues were saltwater erosion of the structures, and the cost to feed and shelter the inmates was three times that of normal prisons due to the remote location.

Visitor takeaway: The Rock didn’t close because it “stopped working”—it closed because it was too expensive to keep alive.

14) The longest stay was by a “Creepy Canuck”

Alvin Francis “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz served the longest time at Alcatraz (25 years) and even had to be transferred to another prison when Alcatraz shut down. He was eventually deported to his native Canada.

Visitor takeaway: Some inmates didn’t just “do time” here—they lived an entire era of their life inside this place.

15) Native American activists protested on Alcatraz in 1969

A group of Native American activists occupied the island in protest of the U.S. government’s policy of terminating the tribal sovereignty of Native Americans. Their occupancy lasted 19 months before the authorities moved in, but not before President Nixon heeded their call and effectively ended the government seizure of Indian lands.

Visitor takeaway: Alcatraz isn’t only prison history—this is also a major civil rights and activism landmark.

16) Alcatraz has “gone to the birds”… literally

Gone are the prisoners to be replaced by nature’s aviary residents. Western seagulls flock to the island, and visitors often have to watch their step so they don’t walk in bird poo. In fact, about 5,000 birds across nine species call Alcatraz home.

Visitor takeaway: Bring the camera—and watch your step. Alcatraz today is history plus wildlife, all in one visit.

17) Alcatraz is one of San Francisco’s most visited attractions

With its rugged location and legendary status, “the Rock” as it is often called, was converted into a park as part of the U.S. National Park System in 1972. More than 1.5 million people visit the tiny island every year.

Visitor takeaway: It’s popular for a reason—big history, big views, and stories you’ll be telling long after you leave.

Bonus Fun Fact: Alcatraz’s Unexpected Wild Resident — The Swimming Coyote

In early January 2026, a lone coyote stunned wildlife experts and locals alike by swimming about 1.25 miles across San Francisco Bay to reach Alcatraz Island—a cold, choppy, current-swept journey that very few land mammals would even attempt. The soaking-wet, shivering coyote was first spotted hauling itself onto the island’s rocky shoreline, but against all odds, it didn’t just survive—it thrived.

Nearly two weeks later, observers reported the animal looking healthy, well-fed, and noticeably chunkier—likely dining on seabirds nesting near the former prison’s parade grounds. It’s also believed to be the first documented coyote on Alcatraz since the island became a National Park Service site in 1972, making this one of the wildest modern “Alcatraz stories” that doesn’t involve inmates at all.