Many movie fans may remember the classic film The Shawshank Redemption, where the protagonist Andy Dufresne uses a small rock hammer hidden in a book to carve out a tunnel, escaping from his cell. However, in real life, there was a much more dramatic and mysterious prison break—three prisoners successfully escaped from the most heavily guarded, infamous prison in America: Alcatraz.
Even after 60 years, their fate remains unknown. This prison break has become one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American prison history.
Jim’s First Day at Alcatraz
In 1960, Jim arrived at Alcatraz Island for the first time. He was both nervous and excited. He was about to become a guard at the most notorious prison in the world, keeping watch over the most dangerous criminals. 
“Almost every American boy grows up hearing the stories of Alcatraz,” Jim said. He wasn’t an exception. The island felt just as eerie and desolate as the stories he had heard.
Alcatraz is located in San Francisco Bay, surrounded by freezing, shark-infested waters. Falling into the water almost guarantees death. The prison itself is surrounded by high fences, reinforced with iron bars. There’s a ratio of three guards to every prisoner, making an escape nearly impossible. Even if a bird were to be locked up here, it wouldn’t be able to escape.
A Jail Full of Monsters
Despite the prison’s heavy security, riots and criminal activities were a regular occurrence. The criminals housed there were among the worst in American history.
One of the most infamous figures in Alcatraz was Al “Scarface” Capone. Capone was a notorious gangster in the 1920s, known for controlling Chicago’s illegal alcohol trade. He became infamous after orchestrating the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, where seven members of a rival gang were killed.
Capone was initially imprisoned in Atlanta, but he continued to influence criminal activities from behind bars. After multiple prison escapes were foiled, the government moved him to Alcatraz in 1934, where he was kept under the strictest supervision. Capone was locked in a solitary cell, and during outdoor breaks, he was guarded by armed officers. Despite his high-profile imprisonment, Capone did not return to his old life of crime after his release. Many speculated that the psychological trauma from Alcatraz’s harsh environment played a role in his change.
The Infamous Escape Plan of 1962
Alcatraz’s security was once thought impenetrable, but in 1962, a group of four prisoners successfully devised a foolproof escape plan. The escape was executed by the Anglin brothers—John and Clarence—and their accomplices Frank Morris and Allen West.
Frank Morris was an extremely intelligent criminal, incarcerated for armed robbery and drug trafficking. Allen West, also known for his escape attempts, was caught and transferred to Alcatraz after a failed escape attempt in Florida.
The four men became close in prison and began planning their escape. They found that their cells were too far apart for convenient action, so they requested to be moved to adjacent cells. Surprisingly, the authorities approved this request. The four men quickly realized that the ventilation shaft under their sinks could be the perfect route for their escape.
Digging the Tunnel
The prisoners had very few tools at their disposal, but they managed to improvise. They used spoons, coins, and nail clippers to carve out a tunnel that was just large enough for one person to crawl through. To hide their progress, they covered the hole with paper and cardboard to prevent the guards from discovering their work.
But even once outside the prison walls, the criminals faced a major challenge: the frigid waters surrounding Alcatraz. They gathered rubber raincoats, sealed them with steam pipes, and fashioned them into inflatable rafts and life vests.
The Fake Head and the Great Escape
To prevent being caught during the nightly headcount, the prisoners created lifelike dummy heads. They used toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, and even hair they stole from the prison barbershop. The heads were carefully placed under their blankets to fool the guards.
On the night of June 11, 1962, after lights out, the prisoners put their plan into motion. They used their fake heads as decoys, and crawled through the tunnel. Once out of the prison, they used the homemade rafts and life vests to cross the waters.
The next morning, when the guards conducted the headcount, they discovered the escape. However, one of the escapees, Allen, had gotten stuck in the tunnel. By the time he freed himself, the other three were already gone, leaving him behind.
The Search for the Escapees
Allen was eventually found by the police and told them the escapees’ destination. The three men had gone in the opposite direction from the nearest shore, opting instead for Angel Island. The authorities searched Angel Island but found only debris—fragments of raincoats, deflated life vests, and other suspicious items.
Within a year of the escape, Alcatraz prison was shut down permanently. The exact reasons for its closure have never been disclosed.
The Legacy of Alcatraz
Today, Alcatraz has transformed from a feared prison into one of San Francisco‘s most popular tourist attractions. Many curious visitors still flock to the island, eager to witness the infamous site where so many daring escapes took place. Numerous films and documentaries inspired by the island’s dark history continue to emerge.
As for the three escapees—John and Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris—their whereabouts remain a mystery. Some people have claimed to have seen them, even in places as distant as Rio de Janeiro, but the case remains unsolved.
This incredible escape continues to captivate imaginations even six decades later. Despite the passage of time, the mystery of Alcatraz and the three missing prisoners endures.
