The protest ended in 1971, but it reignited national awareness about Native sovereignty and the injustices faced by Indigenous communities. Alcatraz had once again transformed — from a site of confinement to a beacon of freedom and protest. The prison’s most famous escape attempt was carried out by Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers, who made it off the island in 1962 by fashioning a raft out of stolen raincoats and fashioning dummies that they placed in their prison beds. None of the three escapees were ever found, and all were presumed dead.
Trump’s comments made clear that the prison’s image was central to his decision, certainly not budget issues. He noted the tourist draw of the island, and local officials say the museum on national park land brings in $60 million each year, drawing 1.6 million visitors. In 1972, the island became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. Today, more than 1.5 million visitors each year step onto the Rock to walk through its decaying corridors, peer into solitary cells, and feel the weight of its history.
