President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to reinstate Alcatraz Island as a federal prison, more than six decades after it was deemed too costly to maintain. Currently a popular tourist destination managed by the National Park Service, Alcatraz is proposed by Trump as a site for housing America’s “most ruthless and violent” criminals. Historically, the island served as a prison for infamous figures such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, as well as others considered too dangerous for other facilities.
Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay and visible from the Golden Gate Bridge, is renowned for its history as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Originally designated for public use by President Millard Fillmore in 1850, it quickly became a military site, even holding Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. By the 1930s, it was selected as a high-security prison to contain the nation’s most dangerous criminals due to its remote location.
The decision to close Alcatraz came about because its isolation made it impractical and costly. Supplies, including nearly one million gallons of fresh water weekly, had to be transported by boat. In 1959, the cost of housing a prisoner on the island was $10.10 per day, significantly higher than the $3 per day at a federal facility in Atlanta, prompting the government to consider building new prisons elsewhere.
Despite its secure location, numerous escape attempts were made. According to records, 36 men attempted escapes in 14 separate incidents; most were captured or succumbed to the bay’s treacherous waters. The 1979 film “Escape from Alcatraz,” starring Clint Eastwood, dramatizes one of the most famous escape attempts, involving John Anglin, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris. Although they left behind decoys to mislead guards, no credible evidence has surfaced regarding their fate.
In 1973, a decade after its closure as a prison, Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and opened to the public. Today, it attracts more than one million visitors annually, who arrive by ferry. Tickets for adults are priced at $47.95, allowing visitors to explore the storied history and view the cells where prisoners were once held.
