As Donald Trump announces plans to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz Prison, we answer your top questions: When was Alcatraz built, why did it close, and what does reopening mean today? Alcatraz began as a military prison in the 19th century, with its iconic concrete cellhouse completed in 1912. It became a federal penitentiary in 1934, notorious for housing America’s most dangerous criminals. The prison was closed in 1963 due to extremely high operating costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and its vulnerability to escape attempts-most famously the 1962 breakout that accelerated its shutdown.
