When did Alcatraz prison close in 1963?

1. The final day: “March 21, 1963” — the date most sources use

Contemporary histories and institutional records mark March 21, 1963 as Alcatraz’s official closing date; press and prison accounts describe the last transfers of inmates and the formal end of the penitentiary on that day ^{[1] [6] [4]}. The Bureau of Prisons notes that the federal prison operated “from 1934 until the prison was closed in 1963,” and several detailed narratives specify March 21 as the final day ^{[7] [3]}.

2. Why March 21? The financial and structural case

Authors and agencies consistently attribute the closure to escalating costs and physical deterioration: Alcatraz cost roughly three times as much per prisoner per day as comparable institutions, fresh water and waste removal were expensive logistical burdens, and half a century of salt‑water exposure had eroded buildings — all factors prompting the Justice Department and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to order closure ^{[1] [2] [8]}.

3. The 1962 escape and the political pressure to act

The June 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers intensified scrutiny of Alcatraz’s practicality. Accounts tie that high‑profile breakout together with the cost and structural reports in the decision to close the facility — the escape catalyzed investigations and helped make closure politically viable ^{[1] [8]}.

4. How closure was implemented: phased transfers and public ceremony

Sources describe a phased redistribution of inmates beginning in late 1962 and culminating with the last group of prisoners leaving in March 1963. Historical reporting recounts the press watching the final inmates depart and the Bureau of Prisons documenting transfers to other federal institutions as the population was reduced ^{[6] [4]}.

5. What happened to the island after 1963: abandonment to activism to tourism

After closure the island lay largely unused until Native American activists occupied it from 1969 to 1971, asserting treaty claims and drawing attention to Indigenous issues; later Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and opened for public tours in the 1970s ^{[4] [5]}. Today the site attracts well over a million visitors annually as a historic landmark ^{[9] [10]}.

6. Consistency across reputable sources — and where coverage is sparse

Major reference works and institutional pages (Britannica, History.com, BOP, National Park/parks conservancy) align on the March 21, 1963 date and the closure rationale of cost and decay, giving strong corroboration ^{[2] [4] [3] [5]}. Available sources do not mention any alternative official closure date; no reputable source in the provided set disputes March 21, 1963 ^{[1] [6]}.

7. Competing emphases and implicit agendas to note

Different outlets stress different elements: institutional pages emphasize operational cost and infrastructure (BOP, Britannica) while popular histories often foreground the 1962 escape as a narrative turning point ^{[1] [7] [9]}. Tourism‑oriented sources highlight closure as the prelude to the island’s later status as an attraction, which may underplay the policy and budget debates that drove the decision ^{[9] [5]}.

8. What to read next in the provided material

For a concise administrative explanation, the Bureau of Prisons and Britannica entries summarize the cost and maintenance arguments ^{[3] [2]}. For narrative context about the escape that helped precipitate action, the June 1962 escape write‑up and History.com pieces are useful ^{[1] [4]}. For preservation and tourism angles, consult the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy and recent tourism write‑ups ^{[5] [11]}.

Limitations: this summary relies only on the supplied sources and does not include archival documents or primary Justice Department memos beyond those cited here; available sources do not mention detailed internal budget spreadsheets or a verbatim order from Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in this dataset ^{[1] [6]}.