#21: The Closure of Alcatraz Penitentiary in 1963
Active from August 11, 1934, to March 21, 1963, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was America’s most notorious prison. Its chilling presence in San Francisco Bay, fortified against escapes by treacherous currents, left an indelible mark on those who visited.
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Soaring maintenance costs and severe decay from sea salt corrosion, requiring $5 million in repairs, led to its closure. Following a failed escape in 1962, Alcatraz was deemed untenable, prompting the transfer of its inmates to various other U.S. prisons.