Escape from Alcatraz Article

What do Al Capone, James “Whitey” Bulger, and Basil “The Owl” Banghart all have in common? If you guessed that they were all inmates at America’s most notorious prison, you’re absolutely right. 

One of the most famous landmarks in San Francisco, the prison on Alcatraz Island opened its doors in 1934 to lock down 137 of the country’s most cutthroat criminals. Now a museum open to the public, the prison offers fully immersive audio tours that will transport you back almost a century. You’ll hear the clank of dishes in the mess hall as you contemplate the prospect of escape. With no more than a mile of water between the maximum-security penitentiary and a world of freedom, many prisoners entertained that very idea, but the icy, back-breaking currents were too much for all but the hardiest among them. Only two prisoners ever successfully escaped. Learn their stories and much more on your tour of this legendary American institution.