🗝️ Why Did Alcatraz Close? The Real Reasons Behind the Shutdown of America's Most Infamous Prison 🏝️
Nestled in the cold, turbulent waters of the San Francisco Bay , Alcatraz Island —once home to the United States' most notorious maximum-security prison —has long fascinated the public with tales of daring escapes, dangerous criminals, and life behind its unyielding walls. But for all its mystique and popularity, many still ask: why did Alcatraz close ? The answer lies not in any single factor, but rather a combination of economic, environmental, and operational realities that rendered the facility unsustainable. 💸 High Costs and Financial Unsustainability: The Price of Isolation At the heart of Alcatraz’s closure was cost . Operating a prison on an isolated island came with a hefty price tag. Everything—from food and fuel to clothing and construction materials—had to be shipped in by boat, dramatically increasing day-to-day expenses. The prison reportedly cost over $10 per inmate per day , at a time when other federal prisons averaged just $3 per inmate . The island’s harsh m...