From 1934 to 1963 it served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous civilian prisoners. Among its famous denizens were Al Capone, George (“Machine Gun”) Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” (the subject of the 1962 film of the same name).

Its goals eventually encompassed the entire spectrum of Indian demands—economic independence, revitalization of traditional culture, protection of legal rights, and, most especially, autonomy over tribal areas and the restoration of lands that they believed had been illegally seized.

In April 1973 AIM organized a protest in South Dakota on the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. The purpose of the protest was to end a corrupt administration on the nearby Pine Ridge Reservation. After 70 days, federal intervention ended the occupation.

On March 21, 1963, USP Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation. It did not close because of the disappearance of Morris and the Anglins (the decision to close the prison was made long before the three disappeared), but because the institution was too expensive to continue operating.

The deaths of Michael Kudryk, 64, and Amy Martich, 40, were the second and third at the race in three years. Seven deaths, including: Ross Ehlinger, 46, who died in the swim portion of the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco.

around 12°C

This is the swim the Anglin Brothers and Frank Lee Morris successfully attempted in their escape from Alcatraz on the night of June 12, 1962. This event is for experienced open-water swimmers only. You should be able to swim one mile comfortably in a pool in under 40 minutes.

Don’t worry, though. Great Whites rarely enter San Francisco Bay. The most recent sighting was last July, when a boat captain accidentally hooked one in the Bay (and then released it, as required by law). Eleven other types of sharks live in Bay waters, but they don’t typically prey on people.

33 laps

The sons of poor Georgian farmers, the Anglin brothers were 2 of 14 children. The brothers had a proclivity for burglary, landing themselves in jails throughout Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. They often attempted escapes and ultimately found themselves at Alcatraz after a 1958 bank holdup in Alabama.

Frank’s accomplices in the “Great Escape” were equally well acquainted with the dark world of organized crime. Brothers John and Clarence Anglin were also serving sentences at Alcatraz for bank robbery, having been convicted along with their brother Alfred.