592: "Alcatraz: A Story of Maximum Security and Mystery"
Interesting Things with JC #592: "Alcatraz: A Story of Maximum Security and Mystery" - Alcatraz Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, had been a maximum-security prison since the Civil War, housing dangerous criminals.
It was re-fortified with iron bars and strategically placed guard towers in 1934, making it one of the most secure prisons in the world. Despite the redesign, 36 inmates attempted 14 escapes, with nearly all being captured or dying as a result.
The prison closed March 21st,1963 after 29 years of operation due to high costs, and the island became a popular tourist destination managed by the National Park Service.
