Horaires de visite08:30 AM – 08:30 PM
|Mardi, Janvier 13, 2026Île d’Alcatraz, baie de San Francisco, Californie, États‑Unis
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Alcatraz's Most Famous Inmates: Who They Were
Profiles of Alcatraz's most notorious inmates — from Capone to the Birdman — with where they lived, worked, and how they behaved on the Rock.
1/16/2025
16 min read
Alcatraz collected headlines like few prisons before or since. The names are familiar; the day‑to‑day realities often aren’t.
| Inmate | Known For | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Al Capone | Chicago mob boss | Played banjo in the prison band; health declined over time |
| George "Machine Gun" Kelly | Prohibition‑era gangster | Reputation exceeded behavior inside; compliance was typical |
| Robert Stroud | "Birdman of Alcatraz" | No birds on Alcatraz; earlier research at Leavenworth |
Profiles in Brief
Al Capone
- Arrived with a reputation, left with diminished health.
- Music and routine replaced headline‑making violence.
- Interactions tightly managed by policy.
George “Machine Gun” Kelly
- Legend larger than life; behavior inside was mostly rule‑bound.
- Used as a symbol of Alcatraz’s deterrence role.
Robert Stroud (Birdman)
- The nickname misleads visitors.
- Scholarship and isolation define his public image; birds belong to an earlier chapter at Leavenworth.
Myth buster: Stroud didn’t keep birds on Alcatraz — the nickname stuck from previous years.
Where to Find the Stories On‑Site
- Audio tour segments in B‑ and C‑Blocks.
- Exhibit panels around the library and dining hall.
- Ranger programs that separate fact from film.
Visitor Prompts
- What did routine mean for a man used to power?
- How did compliance or non‑compliance shape a life inside?
- Where do movies help — or hinder — understanding?
Auteur
Alcatraz Historian
J’ai écrit ce guide pour rendre votre journée à Alcatraz facile, instructive et mémorable — avec des conseils honnêtes issus de visites répétées.
Tags
Al Capone
Machine Gun Kelly
Birdman
Inmates
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