Alcatraz: A tourist attraction, movie location, home to birds, and, previously, a home to some of America’s biggest criminals of its time.
March 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of the prison’s closure.
Before becoming a maximum security federal penitentiary, it was originally a military prison in the mid 19th century.
In 1934, the island was changed into the federal prison we know today. The strong currents and cold temperatures of the water surrounding the island made it nearly impossible to escape.
Almost a year before the closure of Alcatraz on June 11, 1962 three inmates escaped, brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris.
Director of Bands and history enthusiast Lance Ohnmeiss believes that the three escapees were a factor in the closure of the prison.
Ohnmeiss stated, “The prison lost its fear factor. It was advertised as an inescapable prison, yet three prisoners were still able to escape.”
And 60 years later, despite not holding any famous prisoners, the prison is still standing and more famous than ever.
Alcatraz later closed due to high maintenance costs, holding its last inmate in March of 1963.
While the island was closed to the public, from November 1969, to June 1971, a 19-month-long protest by a Native American group, known as “Indians of All Tribes,” arose with claims that the land was theirs under the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
Despite the Occupation of Alcatraz taking place over 50 years ago, students today can connect to the historic moment.
John Wong ’24 stated, “Even though I wasn’t alive for it I still know the basic facts about it. Native Americans occupied the island in a way of protest. The Native Americans lived there for over a year, and they got forced off of the island in the end.”
While it’s no longer a federal prison or occupied, it is one of San Francisco’s biggest tourist attractions. In one year, over 1.5 million people venture across the bay to the national park.
Tommy Galvin ’24 recalled going on a field trip to the island, saying, “I remember going there in the third grade. We went when we were learning about San Francisco history. I recall learning about how it was one of the nicer prisons in its time.”
