We saw how Fort Alcatraz was first built to protect the port of San Fran before and during the American civil war. Then how it later became a military prison before it became a normal prison in 1934 when the people of California wanted tougher penalties for the crazy gangs and mobs taking over the country! So after a little refurb, carried out by the prisoners themselves, Alcatraz was built and considered the most harshest and safest place for all the lunatics at that time! What's weird is that for the people who worked in the prison, they lived on the island with their families, just two minutes down the road! Creepy!!
We went on an audio tour around the prison, walking around the different blocks and cells and saw how the prisoners lived and how some of them tried to escape! Naughty naughty! One group made papier mache heads to fool the prison guards that they were asleep and then tried to escape, while others spent years digging through the wall with spoons and escaped in the middle of the night. Or did they? They were never caught or found but they would of had to swim for over a mile through rough sea with really strong tides .... although we all secretly hoped they did make it! Alcatraz was home to some famous criminals like Al Capone and we listened to all these different stories about their time at Alcatraz!
The cells were so tiny and cold and it was so windy in there! They had an amazing view of San Fran and you can hear noises from the city if the winds going in the right direction which must have made the prisoners go insane!
After it closed in the 60's some American Indians took over the island in protest of the American laws removing them from their native lands. After 19 months on the island they were removed but the laws were changed! And everyone lived happily ever after!
H & B x
No comments:
Post a Comment