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The Truth Behind the Closure of Alcatraz

On March 21, 1963, the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island officially closed its doors after 29 years of operation. While pop culture often links its shutdown to the infamous June 1962 escape attempt by Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin, the reality is quite different.

The decision to decommission the prison was actually made long before those inmates vanished into San Francisco Bay. The primary reason for closing Alcatraz was simply financial. Operating an maximum-security facility on an isolated island meant that everything—from fresh water to food and fuel—had to be brought in by boat or air, making its daily upkeep exorbitantly expensive compared to mainland prisons.