On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that he will direct various federal agencies to reopen Alcatraz
The island hasn't been used as a federal penitentiary since 1963 and had a capacity of roughly 300 people.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social, "REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering."
"The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE," he wrote.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, the prison was known for housing some of the nation's most notorious criminals, such as Al Capone. It eventually closed in 1963 after operating for nearly 30 years, but was reopened to the public as a museum ten years later, according to BOP.
Alcatraz: America’s Most Infamous Island Prison
Alcatraz is an island located in San Francisco Bay that was used as a prison from 1934 to 1963, according to the BOP.
Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala discovered the island in 1775 and named it Isla de los Alcatraces—“island of the pelicans.” The name later evolved into Alcatraz, according to the National Park Service.
In 1933, the Department of Justice took over Alcatraz to open a maximum security prison for some of the nation's most dangerous criminals.
After 29 years of operation, Alcatraz was closed in 1963. It sat abandoned until 1969, when a group of Native American activists occupied the island and remained there for the next two years.
In 1973, the National Park Service (NPS) transformed Alcatraz into a public museum. Attracting over a million visitors annually, it is recognized as one of the top national parks, according to the BOP.
High Costs and Escape Attempts
Prisoners were often transferred to Alcatraz when they could not comply with the regulations of other federal penitentiaries. However, despite its reputation, many inmates found the conditions at Alcatraz, such as having individual cells, more favorable than those in other federal prisons. There were 14 escape attempts over the years, though no one ever successfully escaped the island, in part due to its location.
The prison on Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963, due to the high cost of operation, according to the BOP. Operating Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive than any other federal prison, partly because its physical isolation required food and supplies to be delivered by boat. The island also had no source of fresh water, so nearly one million gallons had to be barged in each week.
Alcatraz has also been featured in numerous Hollywood movies over the years. Films like The Rock (1996), Escape from Alcatraz (1979), and The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) showcase the island's infamous history.