Plantation
What African country is the prison named after?
Angola
From where does the Red Hat Cell Block get its name?
Inmates housed there were forced to wear straw hats dipped in red paint while working in the fields.
Who was Willie Francis?
17 year old convicted of killing a pharmacist who had to go through the electric chair twice at Angola Prison.
How often was the rodeo held?
Every Sunday in October each year.
After how many years of work at Angola will a prisoner be paid?
3 years
How many acres of land does Angola Prison cover?
18,000 acres
How many cells made up the one-story cell block?
30 cells
Who was Samuel Lawrence Jackson?
The man who purchased the plantation in 1880 and turned it into a prison
What name was the Rodeo commonly referred to?
The Wildest Show in the South.
What range of money per hour could workers be paid?
$0.02 - $0.40
Which river borders the prison on three sides, providing a natural barrier?
The Mississippi River
What were the dimensions of one, solitary cell?
3 x 6 feet
Who was Isacc Franklin?
Owner of Angola Plantation
Who participated in the rodeo?
Volunteer prisoners often serving life sentences
Why is Angola reopening the Camp J unit?
To house ICE detainees
What nickname has Angola Prison been referred to because of the harsh conditions?
The Alcatraz of the South
Who is Charlie Frazier and what event is he known for leading at Angola Prison?
He was incarcerated at Angola Prison. He is known for the violent 1933 jailbreak which led to the construction of the Red Hat Cell Block.
How many prisoners are incarcerated at Angola Prison?
Over 5,000
How many people came to the Rodeo each year?
10,000
What was the nickname of the electric chair?
"Gruesome Gertie"
In what year was Angola Plantation sold and to whom?
1880 to Samuel Lawrence James
In what year was the Red Hat Cell Block officially closed?
1972
Who is the author of the book, How the Word is Passed?
Clint Smith
In what year did it open to the public?
1967
What is the farm line?
A mandatory 6-month period where incarcerated men are required to work in the fields with zero pay.