One of the most violent incidents in the prison’s history occurred in May 1946 when a group of inmates staged an attempted breakout that turned into a three-day standoff with guards and Marines. Known as the Battle of Alcatraz, the riot resulted in the deaths of two correctional officers and three inmates, with several others wounded. The failed escape attempt showed how far some were willing to go to escape the rock—even at the cost of their lives.
Al Capone, the Chicago mob boss who ruled organized crime during Prohibition. George “Machine Gun” Kelly, a notorious gangster and kidnapper. Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” who spent years in isolation studying ornithology. Life inside Alcatraz was harsh but strictly regulated. Prisoners had four basic rights: food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. Anything beyond that — reading materials, recreation, or visitation — had to be earned through good behavior. Cells measured roughly 5 by 9 feet, barely enough room for a cot, a sink, and a toilet.
