Alcatraz Escapes: 14 Breakout Attempts from the Island Prison | HISTORY

Only 3 People Have Ever Escaped Alcatraz—Here’s How

On August 19, 1934, notorious gangster Al Capone was transferred from the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta to the newly opened federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Because of the secrecy surrounding the move and the need to prevent any escape plots from Capone's gang, the transfer was a highly coordinated effort. A heavily guarded train transported Capone and more than 40 other inmates across the country on a secret, often-changing route to evade the press and any potential escape attempts. The train'

5 things to know about Alcatraz

A history of Alcatraz, its famed prison inmates and uncertain future