Alcatraz, an island only one mile from the shore served as a military fortification in the 1850s.

In 1934 it became the infamous maximum-security prison for Mafia criminals and high-risk convicts like "Machine Gun" Kelly, Al Capone and Robert ^"Birdman" Stroud.

Although the island is only a mile from the shore, there is no evidence of any successful escapes across the icy bay.

A federal penitentiary until 1963, "The Rock" is now a popular tourist attraction.

If you get lost on your tour of "Shooting Gallery" and "Isolation Cells" don¡¯t be afraid there¡¯s always somebody near at hand to help you!!!

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