“Gold was discovered in the area in 1848, the same year Mexico ceded California to the United States. The subsequent California Gold Rush demonstrated the need for a military base to protect U.S. interests.” [1] “During the 1850s, a fortress was constructed on Alcatraz and some 100 cannons were installed around the island to protect San Francisco Bay." [2] |
"In 1933, the Army relinquished Alcatraz to the U.S. Justice Department, which wanted a federal prison that could house a criminal population too difficult or dangerous to be handled by other U.S. penitentiaries. Following construction to make the existing complex at Alcatraz more secure, the maximum-security facility officially opened on July 1, 1934." [3] |
“On March 21, 1963, United States Penitentiary Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation... because the institution was too expensive to continue operating. An estimated $3-5 million was needed just for restoration and maintenance work to keep the prison open. Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison ... The major expense was caused by the physical isolation of the island. This isolation meant that everything had to be brought to Alcatraz by boat.” [4]
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