Alcatraz Receives Its First Federal Prisoners as Technology, Sports and Music Make History
August 11 has been associated with everything from the opening of one of America’s most notorious prisons to important developments in technology, sports and music.
Alcatraz receives its first federal prisoners — 1934
On August 11, 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. The island had previously served as a military prison, but it was converted into a federal penitentiary as authorities sought a facility capable of housing particularly troublesome inmates.
Over the next three decades, Alcatraz became one of America’s most famous prisons. More than 1,500 prisoners passed through the facility before it closed in 1963.
Babe Ruth hits his 500th home run — 1929
On August 11, 1929, Babe Ruth became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 500 career home runs. Ruth reached the milestone while playing for the New York Yankees and continued to add to his record-breaking total during his career.
A patent that helped inspire modern wireless technology — 1942
On August 11, 1942, actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr and composer George Antheil received a patent for a frequency-hopping system designed to help guide radio-controlled torpedoes.
Although their invention was not immediately adopted by the U.S. Navy, the underlying concept became important in the development of later spread-spectrum communications and is often cited as an early contribution to technologies used in wireless communications.
The beginning of hip-hop’s history — 1973
On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc hosted a back-to-school party in the recreation room of an apartment building in the Bronx. The event is widely regarded as a foundational moment in the development of hip-hop culture.
Kool Herc’s use of extended instrumental sections—or “breaks”—helped establish techniques that would become central to early hip-hop DJing.
Did You Know?
August 11 is also the birthday of Steve Wozniak, who was born in 1950. Wozniak later co-founded Apple and was instrumental in the development of the company’s early computers.
