Alcatraz Myths Busted: What’s True?

Are there man-eating sharks? Was escape impossible? We separate Alcatraz facts from fiction for smarter sightseeing.

1/25/2025

10 min read

No, the bay isn’t teeming with man-eating sharks — the water is just cold, fast, and unforgiving.

Fact: Documented escapes are few; confirmed successful escapes are officially none, though 1962 remains open to debate.

Use skepticism; the truth is more interesting than the myths.

I wrote this guide to make your Alcatraz day easy, informative, and memorable — with honest tips gathered from repeat visits.