Suffering. That’s the only way to describe life in Alcatraz, an islet in San Francisco Bay. It housed the most notorious prisoners in the US, including Al Capone, in the 1940s. The prison closed in 1963 and became a tourist destination shortly afterwards.

Life was hell here. Guards routinely beat prisoners. After all, the site was for internment, not rehabilitation. The government punished you for your crimes. Trying to escape led to even more suffering.

These negative emotions and experiences can charge a place to make it haunted, and, boy, does Alcatraz fit the bill.

What kind of suffering did the prisoners endure?

The most common was insanity. Even Al Capone fell victim to it from untreated syphilis. Murder was common and so was suicide. Usually, there was quite a bit of torture. The guards had a fondness for cutting off fingers.

Where are the most haunted spots at Alcatraz?

The most active area is the solitary confinement wards. Cells 11, 12, 13 and 14 in Block D were called ‘holes.’ Prisoners were stripped, beaten and gagged before the guards placed them in these tiny, cement cells. The ‘holes’ got their name from the hole in the floor used as a bathroom. These are the cells that led to madness and suicide.

What kind of ghostly activities can you expect to see?

The most common are unexplained clanging of metal doors; whistling; coughing; screams; and the sounds of a group running down the corridors. The old hospital ward is known for ghostly screams and crying. Ghost hunters haven’t reported any apparitions, but, you can occasionally hear a banjo playing near Capone’s former cell.

Have you had an ghostly experience at Alcatraz? If so, please leave your story in the comments below.

Last updated on April 7, 2025 by Jacob Rice