Recounts the history of California's Alcatraz Island, beginning with its use as a military prison, then as a national maximum security prison, also discussing some of the famous prisoners, attempts to escape, attempts of native Americans to reclaim the island, and its current status as a national park.

As one of America's most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California's history for over 155 years. The small, lonely rock, known in sea charts by its Spanish name "Isla de los Alcatraces," or "Island of Pelicans," lay essentially dormant until the 1850s, when the military converted the island into a fortress to protect the booming San Francisco region. Alcatraz served as a pivotal military position until the early 20th century and in 1934 was converted into a federal penitentiary to house some of America's most incorrigible prisoners. The penitentiary closed in 1963, and Alcatraz joined the National Park Service system in 1972. Since then, it has remained a popular attraction as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis, "Dock" Barker—these were just a few of the legendary "public enemies" for whom America's first supermax prison was created. In Alcatraz: The Gangster Years, David Ward brings their stories to life, along with vivid accounts of the lives of other infamous criminals who passed through the penitentiary from 1934 to 1948. Ward, who enjoyed unprecedented access to FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Federal Parole records, conducted interviews with one hundred former Alcatraz convicts, guards, and administrators to produce this definitive history of "The Rock." Alcatraz is the only book with authoritative answers to questions that have swirled about the prison: How did prisoners cope psychologically with the harsh regime? What provoked the protests and strikes? How did security flaws lead to the sensational escape attempts? And what happened when these "habitual, incorrigible" convicts were finally released? By shining a light on the most famous prison in the world, Ward also raises timely questions about today's supermax prisons.

The occupation of Alcatraz Island by American Indians from November 20, 1969, through June 11, 1971, focused the attention of the public on Native Americans and helped lead to the development of organized Indian activism.In this first detailed examination of the takeover, Troy Johnson tells the story of those who organized the occupation and those who participated, some by living on the island and others by soliciting donations of money, food, water, clothing, or electrical generators.Johnson documents growing unrest in the Bay Area urban Indian population and draws on interviews with those involved to describe everyday life on Alcatraz during the nineteen-month occupation. To describe the federal government's reactions as Americans rallied in support of the Indians, he turns to federal government archives and Nixon administration files. The book is a must read for historians and others interested in the civil rights era, Native American history, and contemporary American Indian issues.

The Fading Voices of Alcatraz is a ten chapter work that focuses on the United States Federal Penitentiary era (1934-1963) of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. The complete history of Alcatraz Island includes such topics as early Native American, Spanish discovery, military fort, military prison, federal penitentiary, Indian occupation, and National Park. Each era is briefly explored, enhancing the rich story of the legendary island that is simply known as, 'The Rock.' Shared accounts by the actual Correctional Officers and Prisoners is the trove of treasure to be discovered within the pages of this book. The tales are as inspiring and fascinating as the true historians who shared them. Historically compelling, The Fading Voices of Alcatraz is both educational and entertaining.

Relates stories of ghosts that are supposed to haunt the island's former prison.