In 1963, Alcatraz was officially shut down due to cost inefficiency and deteriorating infrastructure. The island was left abandoned until the Native American Occupation of 1969, when a group of Native activists occupied it for 19 months to protest federal policies and reclaim the land. This event remains a pivotal moment in the Native American rights movement. In 1972, Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. It opened to the public in 1973 and now welcomes over a million visitors a year.
