From Farm Hands to Fugitives

Born into a large family in Georgia, the Anglin brothers were no strangers to life on the move. They helped their parents with seasonal farm work across the country. As two of 13 siblings, they shared a bond that deepened with each passing season.

Each year, their travels took them north for cherry picking, where they embraced the chilly swims in Lake Michigan. Unbeknownst to them, these youthful escapades were shaping them into strong swimmers—a skill that would later play a role in their plan to escape from the confines of Alcatraz. Their splashes in the lake were unknowingly preparations for one of the most famed prison breaks in history.