About 1,545 men passed through Alcatraz between 1934 and 1963. A handful became famous, usually for what they did before they arrived.
Al Capone
Arrived in 1934 from Atlanta, where his influence had followed him inside. On Alcatraz he had no leverage; he played banjo in the inmate band and worked in the laundry, and left in 1939 in visibly declining health.
George "Machine Gun" Kelly
Convicted of kidnapping, he served 17 years on the island and was, by staff accounts, a model inmate — a long way from the persona the press built for him.
Robert Stroud, the "Birdman"
Stroud studied birds at Leavenworth, not at Alcatraz, where he was allowed no birds at all. He spent most of his 17 years on the island in segregation.
Alvin "Creepy" Karpis
A Barker-Karpis gang leader and the longest-serving Alcatraz inmate, held for more than 25 years.
Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers
Central to the June 1962 escape and never found — the full account is on Frank Morris Alcatraz.
The other 1,540
Most Alcatraz inmates were unknown men transferred for escape attempts or rule-breaking. Their routine is described on life inside Alcatraz federal prison.
Frequently asked questions
Was Al Capone at Alcatraz?
Yes, from 1934 to 1939, though his health deteriorated significantly during his time on the island.
Did the Birdman keep birds on Alcatraz?
No. Robert Stroud kept and studied birds at Leavenworth; he was permitted none at Alcatraz.