Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Ghostly

Is Alcatraz Haunted?







Is Alcatraz haunted? In Ghostly’s thirty-fifth episode, Pat and Rebecca explore Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Not only does this former fortress have an interesting history, it also is shrouded in spooky stories. But is it a home for ghosts?







Older drawing of Alcatraz and the Lighthouse with two men in a rowboat.







Questions Explored in this Episode







What is the history of Alcatraz Island, and how did it get its name? What role did the prison play in the Civil War? How did it go from military fortress to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to tourist destination? Did anyone ever escape from Alcatraz? Which cell blocks are considered the most haunted and why? Who are some of the most famous “residents” of the island? What are the biggest ghost stories? Is Alcatraz haunted?







Warden’s House (Alcatraz Island). Photo by Bernard Spragg







Listener Mail and Questions







Special Bonus Reader Request! Eric, son of Mondo, requested we tell a story in honor of Chinese New Year, so listen to how the beginnings of this major holiday actually stem from a supernatural creature.







We also have some great personal stories from listener Elisa involving a personal ghost…or do they? Have a story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to info@ghostlypodcast.com and we might read it on the podcast. You can also email us individually at pat@ghostlypodcast.com or rebecca@ghostlypodcast.com. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!







Ghost Story – Alcatraz







Listen to Rebecca tell a story based on one of the most famous ghost sightings on Alcatraz involving one of its most famous residents.







History of Alcatraz







Listen to Pat give the history of Alcatraz prison. He explains how it came into the hands of the United States government, and then discusses the Rock’s dark history of being first a military fortress and then a maximum-security federal penitentiary.







Alcatraz was only in use for 29 years as a federal prison. But during that time it housed some of the most notorious criminals in American History.







* Al Capone* The Birdman of Alcatraz – Robert Franklin Stroud (who was actually a Ornithologist, but he couldn’t keep birds on Alcatraz) (he was also a pimp at the age of 18 in Alaska)* George “Machine Gun” Kelly* Bumpy Johnson (got the name from a bump on the back of his head)* Rafael Cancel Miranda (a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party who attacked the United States Capitol building in 1954)* Mickey Cohen (who was actually a Professional Boxer and a mobster boss)* Arthur R. “Doc” Barker (he was killed while trying to escape Alcatraz)* Alvin “Creepy” Karpis (holds the record for the most time in prison on Alcatraz – 26 years) named creepy because of his sinister smile. He was a Canadian and of Lithuanian decent















Alcatraz, Island, California, Prison, alcatraz, island, corridor, indoors, cellar, architecture, day







Time for Debate!







Join Pat and Rebecca for a debate on several of the most often told stories of the prison.