Alcatraz Escape Attempts: The Complete History
In 29 years as a federal penitentiary (1934–1963), Alcatraz recorded 14 escape attempts involving 36 men. Most were caught or shot. A few drowned. Officially, no one ever successfully escaped — but the 1962 disappearance of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers has never been fully closed, and it remains one of the great unsolved cases in American history.
Why Escape Was Nearly Impossible
The prison itself was only half the problem. The other half was the bay: over a mile of cold, turbulent water with strong currents between the island and San Francisco. Water temperatures hover around 50–60°F — cold enough to induce hypothermia in an unprepared swimmer. That combination is exactly why the federal government chose the island in the first place.
The June 1962 Escape — Morris and the Anglin Brothers
The most famous attempt, and the one you’ll see evidence of in the Cellhouse today. Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin spent months widening the ventilation grilles at the back of their cells using improvised tools, climbing into the utility corridor behind the cell wall. They left dummy heads made of plaster, paint, and real hair in their beds to fool the night counts — the dummy heads are still displayed in the cells on the tour route.
On the night of June 11, 1962, the three men went through the corridor, up to the cellhouse roof, down to the water, and launched a raft made from stitched-together prison raincoats. They were never seen again. The FBI concluded they most likely drowned, but no bodies were ever conclusively recovered, and the U.S. Marshals Service kept the case open for decades. The escape inspired the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood.
The Battle of Alcatraz — May 1946
The bloodiest escape attempt in the island’s history. Six inmates led by Bernard Coy overpowered guards, seized weapons from the gun gallery, and took control of the cellhouse — but couldn’t obtain the key to the recreation yard door, trapping them inside. The standoff lasted two days and ultimately involved U.S. Marines. Two correctional officers and three inmates were killed; two of the surviving inmates were later executed for their roles.
Other Notable Attempts
- April 1936: Joseph Bowers, the first attempt — shot climbing a fence at the island’s edge
- December 1937: Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe disappeared into the bay during a thick fog and were presumed drowned — like the 1962 escapees, never found
- 1945: John Giles methodically assembled a stolen army uniform from the laundry and walked onto an army launch — and was caught when the boat reached Angel Island instead of San Francisco
- December 1962: John Paul Scott became the only inmate confirmed to swim to the mainland — he was found exhausted, hypothermic, and near collapse at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, and was returned to custody
See the Escape Sites on Your Visit
The “Doing Time” audio tour walks you directly past the escape cells with the dummy heads, the utility corridor, and the sites of the Battle of Alcatraz — narrated by the guards and inmates who were there. Book a day tour or see the cellhouse after dark on the night tour.
More history: Alcatraz Island history · Famous inmates · The 1969 Occupation
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