Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

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Lore & Background

Alcatraz was intended for prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons, a 'last resort prison' to hold the worst of the worst who had no hope of rehabilitation. On August 11, 1934, the first group of 137 prisoners arrived from Leavenworth, Kansas, having traveled by rail to Santa Venetia, California. They were handcuffed in high-security coaches and guarded by some 60 FBI special agents, U.S. Marshals, and railway security officials. Most were notorious bank robbers, counterfeiters, or murderers. By June 30, 1935, the penitentiary's first anniversary, it had a population of 242 prisoners. The Bureau of Prisons wrote, 'The establishment of this institution not only provided a secure place for the detention of the more difficult type of criminal, but has had a good effect upon discipline in our other penitentiaries also. No serious disturbance of any kind has been reported during the year.' Alcatraz gained notoriety as the toughest prison in the U.S., considered by many the world's most fearsome prison of the day. Former prisoners reported brutality and inhumane conditions which severely tested their sanity. Ed Wutke was the first prisoner to commit suicide in Alcatraz. Rufe Persful chopped off his fingers after grabbing an axe from the firetruck, begging another inmate to do the same to his other hand.

In Their Own Story

The three-story cellhouse included four main cell blocks – A-block to D-block – the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. Prison cells typically measured 9 feet by 5 ft and 7 ft high. They were primitive and lacked privacy, furnished with a bed, desk, washbasin, a toilet on the back wall, and few items other than a blanket. D-Block housed the worst inmates, and six cells at its end were designated 'The Hole.' Prisoners with behavioral problems were sent to these for periods of often brutal punishment. Prison corridors were named after major U.S. streets, such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates. Those who earned privileges were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork, and performing maintenance and laundry chores. From 1969 to 1971, the island and prison were occupied by Native Americans. It is one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually, now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Reader's Guide

The main cellhouse was built incorporating some parts of Fort Alcatraz's citadel, a partially fortified barracks from 1859. A new cellhouse was built from 1910 to 1912 on a budget of $250,000. Upon completion, the 500-foot long concrete building was reputedly the longest concrete building in the world at the time. This building was modernized in 1933 and 1934 and became the main cellhouse of the federal penitentiary. When the new concrete prison was built, many materials were reused: iron staircases and the cellhouse door near the barber's shop at the end of A-block were retained from the old citadel. Massive granite blocks originally used as gun mounts were reused as the wharf's bulkheads and retaining walls. Many of the old cell bars were used to reinforce the walls. $260,000 was spent to modernize and improve it from January 1934. In April, holes were cut in the concrete and 269 cell fronts were installed, built using four carloads of steel ordered from the Stewart Iron Works. In June 1934, the Teletouch Corporation of New York began installation of an 'electro-magnetic gun or metal detecting system' at Alcatraz; detectors were added on the wharf, at the front entrance into the cellblock, and at the rear entrance gate. The metal detectors often overheated and had to be turned off; after the Teletouch Corporation failed to address the problem, their contract was terminated in 1937. In 1939–1940, a $1.1 million redevelopment began, including construction of the New Industries Building, a complete overhaul of the power house with a new diesel engine, a new water tower, new apartment blocks for officers, improvements to the dock, and conversion of D-block into isolation cells. The changes were completed in July 1941. The workshops of the New Industries Building became highly productive, making Army uniforms, cargo nets, and other items in high demand during World War II. In June 1945, it was reported that the federal penitentiaries had made 60,000 nets.

Did You Know?

• The main cellhouse was built from 1910 to 1912 on a budget of $250,000, and upon completion was reputedly the longest concrete building in the world at the time.
• On August 11, 1934, the first group of 137 prisoners arrived from Leavenworth, Kansas, guarded by some 60 FBI special agents, U.S. Marshals, and railway security officials.
• Ed Wutke was the first prisoner to commit suicide in Alcatraz.
• In June 1934, an 'electro-magnetic gun or metal detecting system' was installed at Alcatraz, with detectors on the wharf, at the front entrance into the cellblock, and at the rear entrance gate.
• From 1969 to 1971, the island and prison were occupied by Native Americans.