FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-098

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 11, 2026) – This edition of Fun with Maps takes us on a challenging escape.

A HISTORIC ESCAPE

Alcatraz, a feared, notorious and unescapable prison.   Aaah, scratch the last one.  Three prisoners escaped successfully on June 11, 1962, through digging out from their cells.  Their true fate, ranging from drowning in the cold waters with treacherous currents to reaching land, remains unknown.  There were also numerous clearly unsuccessful escape attempts over the years.

Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay was first just a light house then a military fort then a military prison and finally a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963.

It closed largely because it was deteriorating in the salty environment and because of its high operating cost at $10/day/prisoner in 1963 vs. as an example, Atlanta at $3/day/prisoner.

A few years after it closed, Native Americans occupied the small island for over one year in protest.  Eventually the Department of Interior took control, and Alcatraz is a very popular tourist attraction now.

This view of San Franciso, facing east, is by Magnus from 1860.  Alcatraz is the island shown in the upper left.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.