Alcatraz

The island of Alcatraz is located off the coast of California, near San Francisco. "The Rock," as it's called, has been used as a fort, a federal prison and a protest site since it was first charted 1775. Since 1972, Alcatraz has been a national park open to visitors.

In January 2009, two Republican congressmen, Bill Young and John Boehner, suggested that detainees at Guantanamo Bay be housed in Alcatraz. President Barack Obama issued an executive order during his first week in office which will shut down the Cuban prison within a year.Fox News: Pelosi Shrugs off Alcatraz as Possible Terror Detention Facility (January 25, 2009)

Juan Manuel de Ayala first charted Alcatraz Island in 1775. The U.S. Army took possession of the Island and by 1858 the Island was fortified and remained a military installation until 1934 when it became a prison. The prison closed in 1963.

In 1964, and from 1969-1071 American Indians occupied Alcatraz island in protest of US policies that were detrimental to tribal self-rule and cultural identity. Their occupation in large part helped to change US policy and provide additional resources and independence to Native American tribes.PBS: Alcatraz is Not an Island

House majority leader Nancy Pelosi stated that she did not believe the congressmen were being serious in their claims. The suggestion, whether it was made in earnest or in jest, highlights the Republican criticism of President Obama's decision to close Guantanamo without having a plan for what to do with detainees. Fox News: Pelosi Shrugs off Alcatraz as Possible Terror Detention Facility (January 25, 2009)

According to the official records, no prisoners successfully escaped from Alcatraz. Out of the 36 men who tried, seven were shot and killed and two drowned while attempting to float across the bay on a raft made of raincoats. Alcatraz History: Escapes From Alcatraz The television show Mythbusters attempted to recreate the raincoat escape attempt. The Mythbusters determined that, although it was unable to be proven conclusively, it was plausible that the escapees could have survived the attempt. Mythbusters: Mythbusters Episode 8

• Robert Stroud (the "Birdman of Alcatraz")Archives.gov: A-Z List of Alcatraz Prisoners
• Al CaponeArchives.gov: A-Z List of Alcatraz Prisoners
• George "Machine Gun" KellyArchives.gov: A-Z List of Alcatraz Prisoners
• James 'Whitey' BulgerArchives.gov: A-Z List of Alcatraz Prisoners
• Clarence Carnes (the "Choctaw Kid)Archives.gov: A-Z List of Alcatraz Prisoners