When and why did Alcatraz Prison close — and what makes Trump’s plan to reopen it so challenging?

US President Donald Trump has created once again, this time with his directive for the reestablishment of the notorious Alcatraz prison as a place of lawful confinement for America’s 'most ruthless and violent offenders'.

The decision has piqued a renewed interest among people across the globe about the prison’s history. Sitting atop Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, the prison complex is presently a highly popular tourist destination that attracts over a million visitors annually.

Alcatraz prison: A brief glimpse into its history

Back in the 20th Century, when it served as a maximum security federal penitentiary, Alcatraz housed high-profile inmates like Al Capone and Robert Stroud.


However, the island penitentiary was closed down in 1963.

The closure was officially attributed to high operating costs. The Alcatraz prison required anywhere between USD 3 million and USD 5 million for upkeep and restoration.

At the time, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said that the operational cost of Alcatraz was three times more than that of any other federal prison, as mentioned in a report by USA Today.

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Why was it hard to run Alcatraz in 1963?

The prison was officially opened in 1934 after the US Department of Justice acquired it. It was said to be the most difficult prison for inmates as the water around the prison was infested with great white sharks and often saw heavy currents.

However, this issue had its own demerits for the government. Being geographically isolated from the mainland, the prison required regular supplies of fuel and food through boats. The absence of fresh water sources also contributed to the high costs incurred in running the island prison.

How did Alcatraz get its name?

The island that is today known as Alcatraz was initially named "Alcatraces" by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. Ayala was the first to sail into what is today called the San Francisco Bay, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' website.

The period of the California gold rush saw the island hosting a military fort, USA Today noted. The island began housing prisoners in the Civil War era.

Back when it was a prison, the inmates who were held here had just four rights, including food and medical care, while everything else had to be earned as a privilege. The other two rights were shelter and clothing.

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FAQs

When was Alcatraz prison shut as a federal prison?
The maximum security Alcatraz prison, which housed several notorious criminals of its era, was closed down in 1963.

When was Alcatraz prison officially opened?
Alcatraz prison was first started as a federal penitentiary in 1934.