Alcatraz is perhaps best known for the June 12, 1962 escape of Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris. In addition to successfully escaping the island, neither the inmates, nor their remains, were ever found. FBI.gov reports the U.S. Marshals Service’s investigation into the notorious escape is still active. Although the escape remains one of the most intriguing incidents associated with Alcatraz, the island, and the facility, have a rich history — which began in the 1850s.

In 1853, the U.S. military built a fort on Alcatraz Island to defend San Francisco Bay. As reported by Mercury News, officials turned the island into a military detention center in 1859. It was transferred from the War Department to the Department of Justice, and in 1934 became a federal penitentiary. Some of the earliest and most notorious inmates included Arthur “Doc” Barker, Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Alvin Karpis, and Robert Stroud, who was known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Between 1934 and 1962, at least 36 individuals attempted to escape Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

Although the closure of the prison seemed to coincide with the successful escape of the Anglins and Morris, prison officials said the decision to close was actually made before the men escaped. It was estimated that the facilities required between $3 million and $5 million for restoration, on top of the prison’s operating costs, which were three times that of other federal prisons. As it is located on an island, everything from fresh water to employees had to be transported to the facility by boat.

Details about the decision to close Alcatraz, and its status today

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