Alcatraz remains one of the most famous federal penitentiaries in history, sitting on a rocky island in San Francisco Bay. This quiz looks at its transformation from a military fortress to a maximum-security prison.
You will see questions about famous inmates, legendary escape attempts, and the 1969 Native American occupation. We also look at the daily realities of the guards and prisoners who lived there.
After finishing, check out our trivia on historic places, discover beautiful islands and beaches, or browse through famous landmarks.
Alcatraz Island is located in which body of water?
Puget Sound
Puget Sound
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
New York Harbor
New York Harbor
During which period did Alcatraz operate as a federal penitentiary?
1924 to 1953
1924 to 1953
1944 to 1973
1944 to 1973
1934 to 1963
1934 to 1963
1954 to 1983
1954 to 1983
What was the primary function of Alcatraz Island in the mid-19th century before it became a prison?
Commercial fishing port
Commercial fishing port
Military fortress
Military fortress
Naval shipyard
Naval shipyard
Quarantine station
Quarantine station
Which of the following notorious figures was never an inmate at Alcatraz federal penitentiary?
Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Robert Stroud
Robert Stroud
George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly
George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly
Al Capone
Al Capone
Which area of the Alcatraz federal penitentiary was known as the ‘seclusion’ or ‘solitary’ wing?
Cell house C block
Cell house C block
Cell house A block
Cell house A block
Cell house B block
Cell house B block
Cell house D block
Cell house D block
Which famous inmate was known by the nickname ‘The Birdman’?
George Kelly
George Kelly
Al Capone
Al Capone
Arthur Barker
Arthur Barker
Robert Stroud
Robert Stroud
Which three inmates fled the prison walls in the famous 1962 escape attempt?
Al Capone, George Kelly, and Robert Stroud
Al Capone, George Kelly, and Robert Stroud
Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin
Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin
Arthur Barker, Henri Young, and Rufus Franklin
Arthur Barker, Henri Young, and Rufus Franklin
James Bulger, Mickey Cohen, and Alvin Karpis
James Bulger, Mickey Cohen, and Alvin Karpis
Who occupied Alcatraz Island for 19 months starting in 1969 to advocate for civil rights?
Gold miners
Gold miners
Anti-war protestors
Anti-war protestors
Environment groups
Environment groups
Native American activists
Native American activists
Alcatraz Island is currently managed as part of which National Park service unit?
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore
Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
What primary tool did the inmates in the 1962 escape use to widen the ventilation shafts in their cells?
Firearms stolen from guards
Firearms stolen from guards
Spoon handles
Spoon handles
Acid from explosives
Acid from explosives
Diamond-tipped drills
Diamond-tipped drills
What is the popular nickname given to Alcatraz Island?
The Silent Fortress
The Silent Fortress
Hell’s Island
Hell’s Island
The Rock
The Rock
Island of Spirits
Island of Spirits
Which government entity was responsible for the island before it was transferred to the Department of Justice in 1933?
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
United States Army
United States Army
California Department of Corrections
California Department of Corrections
Which Chicago crime boss was transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 to help break his influence over the prison system?
Alvin ‘Creepy’ Karpis
Alvin ‘Creepy’ Karpis
Robert Stroud
Robert Stroud
Al Capone
Al Capone
Arthur ‘Doc’ Barker
Arthur ‘Doc’ Barker
What was considered the primary natural barrier preventing inmates from escaping the island? [1.1.2]
Thick underwater vegetation
Thick underwater vegetation
Cold water and strong currents
Cold water and strong currents
Sulfur-emitting geothermal springs
Sulfur-emitting geothermal springs
Aggressive marine wildlife
Aggressive marine wildlife
Roughly how long did the Native American occupation of Alcatraz in 1969-1971 last?
11 months
11 months
15 months
15 months
23 months
23 months
19 months
19 months
In what year did Alcatraz officially open to the public as a tourist destination?
1974
1974
1973
1973
1972
1972
1971
1971
What major event in the prison’s history involved a failed escape attempt which resulted in the deaths of three inmates and two correctional officers?
The 1946 armed prison riot
The 1946 armed prison riot
The 1962 escape attempt
The 1962 escape attempt
The Native American occupation ending in fire damage
The Native American occupation ending in fire damage
A hospital ward fire
A hospital ward fire
Which of the following statements regarding the history of Alcatraz is true?
Inmates were never allowed visitors.
Inmates were never allowed visitors.
The warden lived in the cell block.
The warden lived in the cell block.
The island’s lighthouse is the oldest on the U.S. West Coast.
The island’s lighthouse is the oldest on the U.S. West Coast.
The prison had secret underground tunnels.
The prison had secret underground tunnels.
What was the name of the group that led the 1969 Native American occupation?
‘Save the Island Coalition’
‘Save the Island Coalition’
‘Native Civil Rights Front’
‘Native Civil Rights Front’
‘Indians of All Tribes’
‘Indians of All Tribes’
‘Alcatraz Liberation Army’
‘Alcatraz Liberation Army’
What year did the first group of federal prisoners arrive at Alcatraz?
1934
1934
1936
1936
1938
1938
1932
1932
Which fact about Robert Stroud, ‘The Birdman of Alcatraz’, is often misunderstood by the public?
He was too dangerous to be near animals.
He was too dangerous to be near animals.
He never actually kept birds while imprisoned there.
He never actually kept birds while imprisoned there.
Bird studies were forbidden by law.
Bird studies were forbidden by law.
The prison administration rejected his research proposals.
The prison administration rejected his research proposals.
What was one of the features created and maintained by inmates during the active years of the penitentiary?
An indoor swimming pool
An indoor swimming pool
A bowling alley
A bowling alley
A public aquarium
A public aquarium
A small garden
A small garden
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