August 11, 1934 — the first prisoners arrive at Alcatraz
The island fortress in San Francisco Bay opened as a federal maximum-security prison, built to hold the era's most notorious offenders under the theory that "no one escapes." Twenty-nine years and dozens of escape attempts later, it closed — too expensive to keep running.
Common Questions About August 11
What happened on August 11 in American history?
In 1934: the first prisoners arrive at Alcatraz. The island fortress in San Francisco Bay opened as a federal maximum-security prison, built to hold the era's most notorious offenders under the theory that "no one escapes." Twenty-nine years and dozens of escape attempts later, it closed — too expensive to keep running.
Why is August 11 significant?
The island fortress in San Francisco Bay opened as a federal maximum-security prison, built to hold the era's most notorious offenders under the theory that "no one escapes." Twenty-nine years and dozens of escape attempts later, it closed — too expensive to keep running.
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