It was the perfect spot for a prison — surrounded by the rough, freezing water of the Pacific Ocean, and far enough from land that it would be impossible to escape

IN 1775, an explorer discovered a little island off the coast of California. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces. Later, that was shortened to Alcatraz or just The Rock, and sold to the US government. It was the perfect spot for a prison — surrounded by the rough, freezing water of the Pacific Ocean, and far enough from land that it would be impossible to escape. At first, it was used as a prison for confederate soldiers after the Civil War. Eventually, it became the place where the most dangerous criminals were kept.

In most prisons, prisoners spend most of their days working, in classes, and playing sports or other games. They live in cells with roommates and have libraries and other activities. But in Alcatraz, security was very tight. Each prisoner was kept in a cell alone. They had to earn their way out of their rooms, and anything other than basic care was considered a privilege. Most inmates stayed at Alcatraz for five years before they were transferred to less secure prisons.

In 1963, Alcatraz was shut down. The government decided that it cost too much to run. Because it was on an island so far away from roads and trains, everything that Alcatraz needed had to be transported by boat. It would be cheaper to build a new prison rather than to keep Alcatraz open.

Today, tourists can visit the island and read about its history. Some people even try to swim the distance from San Francisco to Alcatraz.