Today in History: Prisoners land on Alcatraz
81 years ago today, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island. On August 11, 1934, the "most dangerous" prisoners in the United States were put on the mysterious island situated 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco.
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The island of Alcatraz was thought to be ideal for dangerous prisoners, especially those with who had made previous escape attempts. The first shipment of prisoners arrived on August 11, and in late August month, infamous mobster Al Capone joined the bunch.
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The prison ran for 29 years before being closed in 1963, due to the high costs of maintaining the island. In 1972, Alcatraz was re-opened, not as a jail, but as a historical landmark. It is maintained by the National Park Service and is a prominent tourist attraction to more than one million visitors each year.
Want to explore more of Alcatraz's history? See more photos here:
According to the International Centre for Prison Studies, the United States has the highest prison population in the world:
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