Remember when ‘The Rock’ closed its doors for good

Let’s hail ‘farewell’ to Alcatraz! On March 21, 1963 the United States federal penitentiary known the world over as ‘The Rock’ at San Francisco Bay closed its doors for the final time. In a history that spanned almost 30 years, Alcatraz is an icon of American prisons largely because of the harsh conditions and its record for being impossible to escape.

When the doors closed — and the last of the 1,500 inmates transferred — Alcatraz was opened up to the media so that they could get a glimpse of what life on the inside was like. Cameramen and journalists were allowed to roam the inner most cell blocks and cells at will. Maintenance guards were the only inhabitants of the island until its final disposition was decided by Congress and the State of California.

Set across 12-acres of rocky island, and more than 2km from the shores of San Francisco, Alcatraz had one of the most advanced security systems in place for the time. Some of the first metal detectors were used at Alcatraz, and prisoners observed strict rules — including complete silence to be maintained at all times — during their unfortunate stay at the prison.

Before it was a federal prison, Alcatraz was built as a US Army Military Defence. It was used as a war camp and then a military prison. It didn’t formally become a prison until the mid-1930s.

Who could forget some of the most infamous prisoners to call Alcatraz home — Al ‘Scarface’ Capone and Robert ‘Birdman’ Stroud.

Even though ‘The Rock’ closed its doors more than 50 years ago, it remains the leading symbol of criminal justice in the first half of the 20th century. That it is tied to an era of gangsters and organised crime, as well as the legendary stories that go along with it, it’s no wonder that Alcatraz continues to draw millions of visitors from around the world every year.

Where were you when Alcatraz closed its doors? Have you ever visited the famous prison?

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