List of Alcatraz escape attempts

During its operation as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, there were a total of 14 escape attempts made by 34 prisoners, to escape Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Two men tried twice, making for a total of 36 individual escape attempts; fifteen were caught, eight gave up, six were shot and killed, four were confirmed to have drowned, and five vanished and were unaccounted for, though they were presumed to have drowned. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.

Most notable were the violent "Battle of Alcatraz" in May 1946 and the famous June 1962 escape by Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin, which was marked by careful planning and execution.

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