Alcatraz is the most famous prison in all of history. It is a little island about 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco, California. Over the years it has been used as a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a high-security federal prison. It is now a national landmark where people can take tours and learn about the prison. Over the 30 years that it served as a federal prison it held about 1545 men. It is known for holding some of the most infamous criminals of all time. Several movies have been made based on escape attempts by the prisoners.