Photo courtesy of Alcatraz East Crime Museum
November 8, 2023, is a National STEM Day. Alcatraz East Crime Museum invites guests to get up close and personal with STEM demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the celebration room. They will put maritime crimes in the spotlight, showing careers in protecting marine life and habitats. Guests can also explore Alcatraz Island and the famous prison people still visit today.
“We have some fun activities planned to celebrate National STEM Day,” says Ally Pennington, artifacts and programs manager at Alcatraz East Crime Museum. “You won’t want to miss the labs we are offering or the chance to learn more about careers that help protect marine life and habitats.”
The museum has teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to take a deep dive in offering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) demonstrations throughout the day. Guests will have the exciting opportunity to learn about the science of oil and water and how big oil spills have a detrimental impact on marine life. Guests will gain a better understanding of the damaging effects that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 had on the ocean and animals that live there.
The day will also inspire young guests to consider careers in marine science and habitat protection. Alcatraz East will be putting career opportunities in NOAA in the spotlight. NOAA employs over 3,000 people, including veterinarians, oceanographers, and research biologists. The museum will share some of the things that people do in these career fields. For example, NOAA has law enforcement officers who focus on protecting threatened marine life species. They work to apprehend and prosecute individuals who are in violation, while working with other STEM-related positions in different divisions.
“We have some fun and interesting things going on during November,” added Pennington. “From engaging labs and learning about career options to remembering such an iconic prison, there’s something for everyone.”
Alcatraz East is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Alcatraz National Park in California. First opening its doors 50 years ago as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the island was purchased by the National Park Services in 1972. The facility operated as Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. Known as “The Rock, several notable criminals, including Al Capone, served time. The Island was also occupied by Native American protestors for 19 months, starting in November 1969. Today, over 1 million people per year visit the island and tour the area.
The museum has several Alcatraz objects on display that guests will not want to miss checking out, including a riot gun case, a letter from inmate Robert “Birdman” Stroud, a prison postcard, and Al Capone’s Alcatraz rosary. There is Alcatraz trivia throughout the museum, and there will be a temporary exhibit about the last day that the prison was open called “Closing the Rock.”
Photo courtesy of Alcatraz East Crime Museum
The museum features over 100 exhibits, with many famous items on display, including Ted Bundy’s famous Beetle and the white Bronco from the O.J. Simpson chase. They also hold a biennial art contest that puts graffiti in the spotlight. This top museum is open at 10 a.m. daily. The last tickets are sold 60 minutes before closing. These interactive experiences are available for an additional fee for birthday parties, school groups, scouts, team building, or other special events. For more information about tickets, discounts, temporary exhibits, and all the museum offers, visit the site: https://www.alcatrazeast.com.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum has updated its board of crime experts, which includes Derwin Bradley, a retired master police officer, James R. Knight, a crime writer, Robin Maynard, a certified crime scene investigator in Florida, Derek Newport, a law enforcement veteran who was with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for 20 years, and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who presided in the notorious case against Casey Anthony, among others.
