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Nelson Mandela speaks outside his former prison cell during a press conference in 2003 on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. From the mid-1960s through 1991, the island served as a maximum-security prison, mostly housing offenders of political offenses. Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. From 1964 to 1982, Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison in the cell shown. In 1990, he was freed. Getty Images
Mandela stayed in this prison cell on Robben Island. Media24/Gallo Images/Getty Images
An aerial view shows the entire island, which is approximately 5 square miles (13 square kilometers). Hoberman Collection/UIG via Getty Images
Group prison barracks sit empty in the facility. Brian Bahr/Getty Images
The last of the political prisoners on Robben Island were released in 1991, and until 1996 the island was used as a medium-security prison for criminal offenders. Oryx Media Archive/Gallo Images/Getty Images
A sign welcomes visitors to the island. Brian Bahr/Getty Images
The Robben Island lighthouse was installed in 1864. Hoberman Collection/UIG via Getty Images
The John Craig Hall is seen on the island. Hoberman Collection/UIG via Getty Images
