Who doesn't know Alcatraz prison. The prison, which was once a military fort in the Gulf of San Francisco, the United States (US), turned out to save a lot of history and also mysteries that are not yet known by the public. Alcatraz Island is an island located in the center of San Francisco Bay, California, United States. The island was once a military fortress and was later turned into a prison. The famous boss of the mafia, Al Capone, was one of the prisoners who had been in the prison. Capone, who bribed prison guards while serving prison terms in Alaska over a tax scandal, was forced to be transferred to the island prison.
But when he was at Alcatraz, Capone appeared as a cooperative prisoner. Capone was also allowed to play banjo with inmate band Alcatraz. Before the island was made a fortress, the island was the home of a brown pelicans colony. A Spanish citizen Juan Manuel de Ayala became the first European citizen to sail to the Golden Gate in 1775 ago. Ayala was the one who gave the name of the island as "La Isla de Los Alcatraces" (Pelicans Island). The name was finally brought up with the name "Alcatraz." This is the most filmed prison: Alcatraz. Once known as the most sinister place, it is now a fun and exciting tourist spot. Because there really are so many stories about Alcatraz, who also inspired the film The Rock (1996) with the stars Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery.
 |
| Alcatraz Island is an Island Located in the Center of San Francisco Bay |
But why is Alcatraz so legendary? First, it is located on a separate island 2 km from the port of San Francisco. Tourists who want to visit must buy a $ 41 ticket at Pier 33. Then take the ferry for about 40 minutes. In his time, Alcatraz was a prison with the highest security system in the world. The prison has many obstacles. Surveillance cameras are in every corner. Also, swimming from the island to San Francisco is almost impossible because of the very cold water temperature (16 degrees) and strong current pressure.
It ends in the third factor, namely the stories. Alcatraz is known for the story of the escape of three prisoners from the safest prison in the world. Not to mention how well-known and most notorious prisoners "stay" here like Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, to Robert Stroud "The Birdman of Alcatraz".
The stories are also "sold" to tourists through memorabilia in the form of books, comics, glasses, and clothes that can be bought at the merchandise store. Ticket sales and one of the merchandise that funds Alcatraz's operations as a tourist place. Because, Alcatraz's operational costs as a prison are very expensive. After being converted from a military prison into a federal prison in 1934, Alcatraz was closed in 1963. Then officially became a national recreation area in 1972 (operating for 39 years).