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Quizzes > History

Alcatraz Prison Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of The Rock

Quick prison trivia quiz with instant results and bite-size facts.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Georgia McfetridgeUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper Alcatraz prison island on golden yellow background, promoting trivia quiz on inmates escape attempts prison secrets

This Alcatraz quiz helps you test what you know about the island prison, its famous inmates, and bold escape attempts. Answer quick questions, see instant results, and pick up short facts as you go. When you finish, try our criminal justice quiz, explore serial killer trivia, or take a TV twist with a Prison Break quiz.

In what year did Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary officially open?
1942
1912
1934
1920
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary opened on August 11, 1934, replacing the army prison that previously operated on the island. The Bureau of Prisons converted the facility to house the country’s most troublesome federal inmates. It remained in operation until 1963.
What nickname was given to Alcatraz due to its isolated, rocky location?
The Fortress
The Castle
The Rock
The Tomb
Alcatraz earned the nickname “The Rock” because it sits on a steep, rocky island in San Francisco Bay, making it famously isolated and escape-resistant. The rock image emphasized its impenetrability. The name remains a popular reference in books and films.
In which body of water is Alcatraz Island located?
Puget Sound
San Francisco Bay
Tampa Bay
Chesapeake Bay
Alcatraz Island lies 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, California, in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Its strategic position made it easy to guard and difficult to escape. The cold currents and strong tides further discouraged escape attempts.
Which notorious gangster was famously incarcerated at Alcatraz?
John Dillinger
Al Capone
Pretty Boy Floyd
Bugs Moran
Al Capone, one of America’s most notorious Prohibition-era gangsters, was transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 to break his influence over other inmates. He served about four and a half years before being transferred due to declining health. Capone’s time at Alcatraz is one of the prison’s most famous stories.
Approximately how many cells did Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary have?
150
256
512
336
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary contained 336 cells arranged in four two-tiered cell blocks. Each cell measured about 5 feet by 9 feet and held a single inmate. The compact design was part of the institution’s strict control environment.
Who was the first inmate confirmed to have survived an escape from Alcatraz?
Clarence Anglin
Frank Morris
John Paul Scott
John Anglin
John Paul Scott was the first inmate confirmed to have survived an escape in December 1962 when he escaped and swam to Fort Point beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, suffering from hypothermia. The more famous escape of Morris and the Anglin brothers occurred days later and their fate remains unconfirmed. Scott’s survival is well documented by Coast Guard reports.
What security level was Alcatraz designated by the federal prison system?
Maximum
Supermax
Minimum
Medium
Alcatraz was a federal maximum-security prison designed to house inmates who were considered too dangerous for other facilities. The “maximum” designation denoted the strictest regime, limited freedoms, and highest level of security available at that time. It was intended to deter escape attempts and punish the most incorrigible criminals.
Which U.S. government department operated Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary?
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of the Interior
Alcatraz was operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ managed federal penitentiaries, including maximum-security institutions like Alcatraz, to house convicts serving sentences for federal crimes. The prison’s administration fell under the Attorney General’s oversight.
How many inmates escaped during the famous June 1962 breakout involving Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers?
Four
Five
Three
Two
Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin made the daring escape in June 1962, using sharpened spoons to dig through cell walls and a raft made of raincoats. Although they were never found, three inmates are known to have taken part in that escape. Their fate remains one of Alcatraz’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
What distinctive items did the escapees leave in their beds to deceive the guards?
Sacks of sand
Dummy heads made of papier-mâché
Fake skeletons
Blankets shaped like figures
Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers fashioned dummy heads from toilet paper, soap, and real human hair to place in their bunks at night. The papier-mâché heads fooled the guards during bed checks, buying them time to complete their breakout. This clever ruse is one of the most famous prison escape tactics in history.
In what year was Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary officially closed?
1963
1958
1946
1970
Due to high operational costs, deteriorating facilities, and constant maintenance challenges, Alcatraz was closed by the federal government on March 21, 1963. The Bureau of Prisons transferred the remaining inmates to other facilities. The island later became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
What was the primary reason cited for the closure of Alcatraz?
Too many successful escapes
Lack of inmates
High maintenance costs and decaying infrastructure
Change in prison policy
The official reason for Alcatraz’s closure was the prohibitively high cost of maintaining the deteriorating prison buildings and infrastructure. Constant exposure to saltwater and harsh weather made repairs expensive. Operational costs far exceeded those of mainland facilities.
What was the name of the Native American group that occupied Alcatraz Island in 1969?
Native Liberation Front
Red Warriors
Indians of All Tribes
The Freedom Riders
The occupation of Alcatraz began November 20, 1969, led by the group called Indians of All Tribes. They cited the Treaty of Fort Laramie and demanded the island be returned to Native peoples. The protest lasted 19 months and became a landmark event in Native American civil rights history.
How was fresh water supplied to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary during its operation?
By an undersea pipeline from the mainland
Shipped daily by barge
Treated island spring water
Collected rainwater
Alcatraz had no natural freshwater sources, so a submarine pipeline was laid from the mainland to the island to provide potable water. This system ensured reliable delivery despite the bay’s strong currents. The pipeline remains in place to this day.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Famous Alcatraz Inmates -

    Memorize biographical details and criminal backgrounds of notorious inmates like Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Stroud to excel in trivia challenges.

  2. Analyze Daring Escape Attempts -

    Break down the planning, execution, and outcomes of infamous breakout efforts such as the 1962 "Birdman" escape to understand what made them successful or fatal.

  3. Understand Daily Prison Life -

    Explore living conditions, routines, and regulations within Alcatraz's cells and common areas to grasp the realities of incarceration on "The Rock."

  4. Evaluate Alcatraz's Security Measures -

    Assess the fortress-like design and protocols that solidified Alcatraz's reputation as the most escape-proof prison in U.S. history.

  5. Apply Knowledge to the Alcatraz Prison Quiz -

    Leverage acquired facts and insights to confidently tackle questions in our Alcatraz trivia and prison quiz without hesitation.

  6. Compare Alcatraz Escape Trivia with Other Prisons -

    Contrast Alcatraz's breakouts with escapes from other historical prisons to identify unique challenges and strategies.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Origins and Timeline of Alcatraz -

    Alcatraz Island began as a military fort in 1850, transitioned to a military prison in 1907, and served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. To remember key dates - 1850, '07, '34, '63 - use the timeline mnemonic "FMPP" (Fort, Military, Penitentiary, Prison closed). This sequence helps anchor the evolution of the "Rock" in your mind for the alcatraz prison quiz.

  2. Notorious Inmates and Their Legacies -

    Famous alcatraz trivia often highlights Al Capone ("Scarface") in Cell 181, Robert Stroud ("Birdman of Alcatraz"), and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Try the acronym "CAP" (Capone, Anglin brothers, "Birdman" Stroud) for quick recall of high-profile prisoners. Each inmate's story - Capone's cell confinement, Stroud's bird studies - adds color to historical prison trivia.

  3. Bold Escape Attempts -

    The most famous alcatraz escape trivia centers on Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers' June 1962 tunnel, dummy heads, and makeshift raft. Remember "Tunnel, Heads, Raft" as the "THR" formula when quizzed on daring breakout details. Despite no confirmed survivors, this event remains the ultimate alcatraz escape trivia tale.

  4. Prison Design and Daily Regimen -

    Alcatraz featured five cell blocks each with 46 nine-by-five-foot cells and strict routines: lights out at 4 p.m., breakfast at 6 a.m., work at 7 a.m., lockdown at 4 p.m. Use the rhyme "Four Six, Six Seven, Seven Lock" to fix the schedule and cell count in memory. Understanding structural layout and regimes boosts your score on historical prison trivia.

  5. Separating Myths from Facts -

    Many believe Alcatraz had 700 guard towers or housed 1,000 inmates simultaneously - both are exaggerations; official records (National Park Service) list five towers and a maximum capacity of 336. Use the "5 - 336" fact-check formula to debunk common misconceptions in alcatraz trivia. Cross-referencing NPS and Federal Bureau of Prisons archives ensures accuracy.

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