Little Alcatraz often a resting ground for Brandt's cormorants. During the last escape attempt from Alcatraz on December 16, 1962, Darl Lee Parker was found on Little Alcatraz; he couldn't swim. Little Alcatraz Little Alcatraz is a small rock in San Francisco Bay roughly off the Model Industries Building off northwest coast of Alcatraz Island. Due to its proximity to the island it is known by this name, but it was formerly known as Paul Pry Rock due to the steamer "Paul Pry" striking it on December 22, 1862 with some 150 men on board. On January 14, 1868, the 700 ton
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Robert Franklin Stroud (the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and