Alcatraz was first discovered in 1775 by Spanish explorer Juan Miguel de Ayala. He named the island La Isla de los Alcatraces, meaning "island of pelicans."
History of Alcatraz
As a result of the influx of people to San Francisco at the time of the California Gold Rush, construction of a fortress began by U.S. Army engineers in 1853 at what later became known as Alcatraz. Due to the higher rate of crime during the gangster era, Alcatraz began a makeover in 1934 to make it better suited for hardened criminals.
Some of the best-known inmates who spent time at Alcatraz include Al Capone, Robert Stroud, (otherwise known as "The Bird Man of Alcatraz,") Machine Gun Kelly, and Doc Barker of the Ma Barker gang. When operational costs became too high, Alcatraz closed its doors in 1963.
The Ghosts at Alcatraz
There have been numerous incidents of spirit happenings experienced by both guards and visitors to Alcatraz. Male voices and footsteps have been heard. People have seen apparitions, and some guests have experienced the smell of smoke. Both orbs and ghostly images have been captured on film.
There have been several deaths at Alcatraz. Eight people were killed by inmates during Alcatraz's time as a prison, along with five inmates who committed suicide. Fifteen people died from natural causes. Could any of these people be the ghosts of Alcatraz? Some people believe the spirits of two guards who were murdered in a shooting incident in 1946 still roam the grounds.
Cell blocks A, B, and C are said to have paranormal activity. The laundry room and the hospital have also had reported spirit activity. Cell 14D is particularly haunted with many people reporting seeing a ghostly figure in the cell. In addition, this cell tends to have a colder temperature than any of the surrounding cells.
Even people who don't believe in ghosts have had experiences they can't explain. One day when Warden Johnson was taking people on a tour, both he and the tour group heard the sounds of sobbing coming from inside the prison walls. When the sobbing stopped, a gust of cold air raced by them. Although Johnson does not believe in ghosts, he was unable to come up with an explanation for what had occurred.
Al Capone's Ghost
Al Capone's final time at Alcatraz was mainly spent in the hospital due to an advanced case of syphilis. Instead of going outside for recreational time, he preferred to spend time in one of the shower rooms practicing his banjo.
At times, the sound of banjo music can still be heard on Alcatraz. Some believe it is the ghost of Al Capone.
Paranormal Investigations of Alcatraz
There have been several paranormal investigations that have taken place on Alcatraz. The Los Angeles Paranormal Association, (LAPA,) caught some spirit images on film. Paranormal investigators Mike Sullivan and Karen Mossey captured several EVPs during their overnight investigation. Alcatraz is, and will continue to be a favorite among ghost hunters because of all of the reported spirit activity.
Readers may also enjoy The Ghosts Of Tombstone, along with Haunted Whaley House Tour, and Hauntings and Ghosts of Coloma, CA.
