Alcatraz Island Escape Attempts: Official Records and Known Outcomes
The Federal Bureau of Prisons recorded 14 escape attempts involving 36 inmates at Alcatraz Island between 1934 and 1963. Most attempts were planned by small groups using improvised tools, rafts, or disguised escapes. The official policy states that inmates were presumed drowned in the cold San Francisco Bay waters unless their bodies were recovered. The U.S. Marshals Service still lists some inmates as fugitives, and the National Park Service maintains records of recovered remains and confirmed failures. For more on federal prison history and escape statistics, see the Bureau of Prisons overview at BOP.gov.
Of the 36 inmates involved in documented attempts, 23 were captured, 6 were shot and killed, 2 drowned, and 5 remain listed as missing and presumed drowned. No inmate is officially recorded as having successfully escaped and reached the mainland alive. The cold water temperature, strong currents, and distance from shore made the bay one of the most hostile escape routes in the U.S. prison system. The final closure of Alcatraz in 1963 followed decades of high costs and security reviews. Additional context on federal corrections and prison security standards is available at justice.gov.
Famous Alcatraz Escape Plans and the 1962 Infamous Attempt
Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers: The 1962 Plan
The most studied escape involved Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin in June 1962. Inmates used stolen tools to widen ventilation ducts, built papier-mâché dummy heads to fool guards, and assembled a raft from stolen raincoats. Investigators found the raft and dummy heads on Angel Island the next morning, but the three men were never recovered. The FBI closed its active case in 1979, while the U.S. Marshals Service still lists the Anglins and Morris as wanted. Forensic analysis of the raft and personal items is documented by the National Park Service, which manages the island as a historic site.
Other Notable Attempts and Methods
Earlier attempts included inmate Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe, who cut window bars in 1937 and vanished during a rainy day, presumed drowned. In 1945, inmate John Krigbaum and others tried to dig a tunnel from a cell, but the plan was discovered before completion. Several escape plans involved creating makeshift flotation devices, copying keys, or impersonating officials during work details. The prison's location in the middle of San Francisco Bay, with water temperatures near 50°F and currents that can exceed 6 mph, made successful escapes extremely unlikely. The National Park Service offers historical exhibits and primary documents on these plans at nps.gov/alcatraz.
Alcatraz Island Today: Escape History and Visitor Access
Alcatraz as a Historic Site and Tourism Destination
Alcatraz Island is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and one of the most visited historic sites in the United States. The National Park Service operates daily tours that include audio guides, cellhouse exhibits, and displays on famous escape attempts. Visitor numbers have grown steadily, with the island regularly ranking among the top attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area. The site uses modern security and preservation standards while maintaining the original prison infrastructure to educate the public on federal corrections history.
Ongoing Research and Public Records
Researchers and historians continue to study escape attempts using FBI files, Bureau of Prisons records, and National Park Service