A look back at Alcatraz
The last prisoner left Alcatraz March 21, 1963, 50 years ago. Here is a look back at the federal prison.
A look back at Alcatraz
This is an undated aerial view of the federal prison island Alcatraz, also known as "The Rock," in the San Francisco Bay, California. On the left are the facilities of the Model Industries buildings, up on the hill is the cellhouse with the high-walled recreation yard in front. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is a view of one of the three cell tiers with individual cells at the main block of the federal prison for dangerous criminals at Alcatraz island, San Francisco, Calif., on March 15, 1956. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
From left to right are the laundry room, power plant and quartermaster building on Alcatraz Island, shown Oct. 20, 1933 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ernest King)
A look back at Alcatraz
File - In this March 21, 1963 file photo the last prisoners depart from Alcatraz Island federal prison in San Francisco. The National Park Service on Thursday celebrated the 50th anniversary of Alcatraz Island's closure as a federal penitentiary with an exhibit of newly discovered photos of the prison's final hours. The new display opened five decades after the last shacked prisoners were taken off the infamous prison in San Francisco Bay that once held the likes of gangsters Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. (AP Photo/File)
A look back at Alcatraz
In this March 21, 1963 photo taken by Leigh Wiener and provided by the National Park Service, prison guard Jim Albright, second from left, leads out the last prisoners from the federal penitentiary. The National Park Service on Thursday celebrated the 50th anniversary of Alcatraz Island's closure as a federal penitentiary with an exhibit of newly discovered photos of the prison's final hours. The new display opened five decades after the last shacked prisoners were taken off the infamous prison in San Francisco Bay that once held the likes of gangsters Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. (AP Photo/National Park Service, Copyright Leigh Wiener)
A look back at Alcatraz
Black smoke rises from a smoke stack of the facilities at Alcatraz island, also known as "The Rock," in the San Francisco Bay, Calif., on October 12, 1933. The island, which has a long history as a military prison, was chosen by the U.S. attorney general to become the new federal penitentiary for dangerous criminals. Seen in the background are the hills of Angel Island. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
A rifle grenade fired by a soldier at left explodes at an already shattered and pock marked window at the Federal Prison on Alcatraz Island where rioting prisoners are cornered after killing two guards and wounding 15, May 3, 1946. (AP Photo/Jack Rice)
A look back at Alcatraz
A typical prison menu as posted over the cafeteria-style table where prisoners receive their food at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, shown March 13, 1956. They have their choice of quantity but are reported if they do not eat all that they choose to take on their trays. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
Guard towers on Alcatraz prison overlook the recreation yard and San Francisco Bay, Ca., 1956, the last time photgraphers were permitted on the island. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
Warden P.J. Madigan, right background, is shown in his office in Alcatraz Island, during a press conference, March 13, 1956. G. Frederick Mullen, director of information, U. S. Dept. of Justice, center background, also participated in the conference, the first one of its kind in many years on the island. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
An Alcatraz guard points to a utility corridor in a cell block a where the bodies of Bernard Coy, Kentucky bank robber, Joseph Cretzer, L.A. bank robber, and Marvin Hubbard, Tennessee kidnapper, were found May 4 after 36 hours of fighting with prison guards and Marines in an attempted prison break. Two guards were killed and two wounded before the convicts were wiped out. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is Alcatraz Island prison, seen from the east, shown 1945. (AP Photo/Jack Rice)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is the cell of one of the several prisoners who have been permitted to do oil paintings at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, in San Francisco Bay, Calif., shown March 16, 1956. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
Senior officer Melvin Kidney, seen through the 2-inch laminated bullet proof glass that encloses his post at the control center of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, is shown March 14, 1956. He supervises all communications and has custody of arms, ammunition, tear gas, etc. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)
A look back at Alcatraz
Jim Lowrie, a guard on Alcatraz's cell block, looks over the empty cell block after the last of the prisoners left the Rock for removal to other prisons, March 21, 1963 in San Francisco. (AP Photo)
A look back at Alcatraz
Dock officer George Black operates controls of the metal detector through which every visitor to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary must pass, and which sounds a warning bell if any metal objects are in the clothing or on the person of the visitor, seen March 13, 1956 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)
A look back at Alcatraz
This is a gun tower on the west side of Alcatraz Prison Island in San Francisco Bay, shown April 30, 1952. The San Francisco skyline can be seen in the background. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)