Context:

President Donald Trump proposes reestablishing Alcatraz as a federal prison to house America's most dangerous criminals, citing its historical use for such purposes. Alcatraz, notorious for its past inmates like Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, first served as a military site before becoming a federal prison in the 1930s due to its remote location. The impracticality of its remoteness, including high operational costs and logistical challenges like transporting fresh water, led to its closure in 1963. Despite these challenges, Alcatraz's legacy includes numerous escape attempts, with the most famous being the 1962 escape of the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris, which inspired a Hollywood film. Since 1973, Alcatraz has operated as a tourist attraction within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, drawing over a million visitors annually to explore its storied history.

Dive Deeper:

• Donald Trump suggests reopening Alcatraz as a federal prison to isolate America's 'most ruthless and violent' criminals, reminiscent of its historical role in housing notorious figures like Al Capone.

• Originally designated for public and military use in 1850, Alcatraz became a federal prison in the 1930s due to its isolation, which was deemed ideal for containing dangerous inmates away from society.

• The island's remoteness posed logistical challenges, including the need to barge in nearly a million gallons of water weekly and higher operational costs compared to mainland prisons, leading to its closure in 1963.

• Alcatraz was infamous for escape attempts, with 36 men trying to flee in 14 separate incidents; the most notable escape involved the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris in 1962, which became the basis of the film 'Escape from Alcatraz'.

• Since its closure as a prison, Alcatraz has been part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, attracting over one million visitors each year who come to see its historical prison cells and learn about its past.

• The FBI investigated the 1962 escape for 17 years without finding credible evidence of the escapees' survival, adding to the island's mystique and intrigue.

• Visitors pay $47.95 for a ferry ticket to Alcatraz, where they can explore the island's history and its role in the American penal system during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963.