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Alcatraz, originally envisioned as a naval defense fortification, was designated a residence for military offenders in 1861, and it housed a diverse collection of prisoners in its early years.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
It would be a "last resort prison", to hold the worst of the worst who had no hope of rehabilitation. [10] [11] On August 11, 1934, the first batch of 137 prisoners arrived at Alcatraz from the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, having traveled by rail to Santa Venetia, California.
- 312
- August 11, 1934; 89 years ago
- March 21, 1963; 60 years ago
When the Howitzer rooms of the guardhouse were filled with prisoners, Alcatraz needed a more suitable prison facility. A temporary wooden prison was built in 1863 just north of the guardhouse, but later it was replaced with several adjoining structures called Lower Prison.
The Battle of Alcatraz, which lasted from May 2 to 4, 1946, was the result of an escape attempt at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary by armed convicts. Two Federal Bureau of Prisons officers—William A. Miller and Harold Stites—were killed (Miller by inmate Joseph Cretzer who attempted escape and Stites by friendly fire).
- May 2–4, 1946
- Escape attempt failed
Oct 27, 2009 · By the late 1850s, the U.S. Army had begun holding military prisoners at Alcatraz.
- 3 min
Feb 1, 2024 · In the 1860s, during the Civil War, Alcatraz served as a military prison for Confederate sympathizers and others. Over the following decades, its role expanded to house military prisoners from various campaigns and conflicts, including the Spanish-American War and World War I.
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Nov 30, 2022 · Military Prison. Alcatraz Island's use as a prison began in December 1859 with the arrival of the first permanent garrison. Eleven of these soldiers were confined in the Sally Port basement.
