Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was one of the most well-known maximum security federal prisons when it was active. It had four cell blocks and the cells were known for being primitive without proper privacy. A movie has also been made about the infamous Alcatraz prison break titled ‘Escape from Alcatraz‘ starring Clint Eastwood.
The shutting down of the prison grabbed a lot of attention in the news headlines and while it was relaunched as a museum, it pulled a large number of tourists. It is still being visited by many people today. However, the story behind the prison is something that is still discussed among the public. Let’s have a look at what exactly happened.
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The Truth Behind The Alcatraz Escape Attempt
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary became a popular name due to the escape attempt that happened a long time back in 1962. The incident was reported to have happened on June 11 or June 12. Three inmates that included Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris managed to run away from the place by using tricks that may not have been possibly imagined by anyone.
The trio tucked papier-mache heads into their beds that looked like them and they broke out of the prison with the help of ventilation ducts and a utility corridor that was abandoned a long time ago.
Although another inmate named Allen West tried to run away, he failed and was left behind. Several reports state that the trio left the island in an inflatable raft and they were never found again. However, the investigation conducted by the FBI hinted that the inmates drowned in the waters of San Francisco Bay before they could reach the land.
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Reasons Behind The Closure Of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary operated for a long time but it had to be closed down in March 1963. Despite speculations that the reason was the prison escape, it has been mentioned by sources that the operating costs increased to such a level that it became difficult for the authorities to work on the maintenance.
The prison was expensive compared to any other and the physical isolation of the island was also a hurdle. Most of the supplies had to be brought to the island with the help of a boat and following its shutdown, it was abandoned for a long time.
While Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972, Alcatraz Island was included as part of the new National Park Service unit. It opened to the public in 1973 and was able to attract more than one million visitors every year.
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