Alcatraz: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 9, 2026

Photos

Alcatraz Island

Night view inside a cell block at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, showing rows of barred prison cells on two levels with a central walkway.

Alcatraz Island: Native American occupation

View of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, showing the former prison buildings, water tower, and rocky shoreline under a clear sky.

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