Alcatraz San Francisco

Alcatraz was open for only 3 decades, yet it is probably the most famous prison in the United States. Perhaps that's because of a list of previous residents that includes such notorious criminals as Al Capone and "Machine Gun Kelly". Or maybe it is the reputation as being inescapable. Most likely, it has something to do with the prison's location; separated from society on a barren rock in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. This popular tourist destination is also the home of the West Coast's first lighthouse (it is still operating) and an early US military installation. As an ecological habitat it is nearly without equal. But the big draw is still the prison.

Throughout its history there were rumors of severe brutalities at Alcatraz and subsequent investigations created a number of changes in practices and the eventual closing of the facilities in the 1950's. Through all of that, the public's fascination only continued to grow. 10 years after it was closed in 1963 the prison was opened to tours and over one million people a year visit the island.