President Trump wants to reopen a notorious prison. Alcatraz Island, located in the San Francisco Bay, has a long and varied history that stretches back centuries. Before it became one of America’s most infamous prisons, it was known to Native American tribes, particularly the Ohlone people, who reportedly avoided the island due to beliefs that it was inhabited by evil spirits. The island’s name, “Alcatraz,” comes from the Spanish word alcatraces, meaning pelicans, due to the large population of seabirds in the area. Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala is credited with naming the island in 1775.

In the mid-19th century, after California became a U.S. territory, the U.S. government recognized the island’s strategic military value. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore ordered that Alcatraz be set aside for military use. By the late 1850s, the U.S. Army had constructed a fort on the island, equipped with over 100 cannons. It also began using the site to hold military prisoners during the Civil War. Over time, its function as a military prison expanded, and by the turn of the 20th century, it had evolved into a long-term detention facility for military personnel.

In 1934, Alcatraz was transferred from the War Department to the Department of Justice and became a federal penitentiary. Its isolated location and strong currents made escape nearly impossible, making it an ideal place to hold the most dangerous and high-profile criminals. Alcatraz housed infamous inmates such as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the so-called “Birdman of Alcatraz.” The prison had a reputation for strict rules and harsh conditions, though by federal standards it was considered relatively secure and clean.

During its time as a federal prison (1934–1963), Alcatraz saw numerous escape attempts. The most famous was in June 1962, when inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin executed a sophisticated plan involving papier-mâché heads, a raft made from raincoats, and a tunnel system. Though their bodies were never found, and they were presumed drowned, the case remains one of America’s greatest prison mysteries.

Alcatraz was closed as a federal penitentiary in 1963 due to high maintenance costs and its deteriorating infrastructure. It remained unoccupied until 1969, when Native American activists, citing a treaty that allowed them to claim unused federal land, occupied the island for 19 months. This protest, known as the Occupation of Alcatraz, drew national attention to Native American civil rights issues and is considered a pivotal moment in the Red Power movement.

Today, Alcatraz is a popular tourist destination managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can explore its history through guided tours and exhibits. The island stands as a symbol of America’s penal system, which is why President Donald Trump wants to use it. The president believes it is a powerful symbol to those who want to break the law. Critics will have a field day with this and explain why they think this is wrongheaded. According to Trump’s detractors, who complain at every turn Trump makes, this is a bad decision. Truth be told, these people will never understand the Presidency of Donald J. Trump.

C. Rich

Crich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

C. Rich

C. Rich is the voice behind America Speaks Ink, home to the America First Movement. As an author, poet, freelance ghostwriter, and blogger, C. Rich brings a “baked-in” perspective shaped by growing up on the streets and beaches of South Florida in the 1970s-1980s and brings a quintessential Generation-X point of view.

Rich’s writing journey began in 2008 with coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and has since evolved into a wide-ranging exploration of politics, culture, and the issues that define our times. Follow C. Rich’s writing odyssey here at America Speaks Ink and on Amazon with a multi-book series on Donald Trump called “Trump Era: The MAGA Files” and many other books and subjects C. Rich is known to cover.

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