"The former island prison is both a National Historic Landmark and a national park site that draws more than a million visitors each year."
"President Donald Trump’s law and order agenda took a new turn over the weekend when the president announced plans to reopen the historic prison Alcatraz, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, to house the country’s “most ruthless and violent” criminals.
The prison, which closed in 1963 due to extreme costs, is one of the most notorious in U.S. history, famous for failed jailbreaks, harsh conditions and several charismatic prisoners. That history has made the island a fixture of San Francisco tourism, and it is one of the more popular National Park Service sites in the country.
For the president, the original history should be revived. ...
But rehabilitating the historic site as a modern prison could be a legally complicated and expensive challenge, say former National Park Service leaders, Democrats and conservationists."
Heather Richards reports for E&E News May 5, 2025.
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