Alcatraz Island has been a popular San Francisco tourist attraction since 1963, but with President Donald Trump floating the idea of repurposing the historic landmark as a detention facility, your days of visiting this island prison may soon be over.

President Trump Wants To Turn Alcatraz Into A Prison Again

Alcatraz Island sits about 1.25 miles off the shore of San Francisco. Originally used as a lighthouse facility, it was converted into a federal prison in 1934 and held notorious prisoners like Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. Strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible, though the 1979 thriller Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood told the story of a trio who may have escaped (that’s still debated). In 1963, the prison was closed by Attorney General Robert Kennedy (due to its high operating expense) and since then has become a popular tourist attraction, offering daily tours.

Over the weekend, President Trump suggested it was time to reopen the facility as a jail (it is currently operated by the National Park Service):

REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! 

His supporters are rallying around the idea, though I’d imagine that the logistics of turning a tourist attraction back into a federal prison are easier said than done.

My family used to take a road trip every year up the California coast from LA to San Francisco and I’ll always remember crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco and looking out of the car window at the flashing light of the lighthouse on Alcatraz (“pelican” in some variants of Spanish).

Despite numerous visits to the Bay Area, I’ve never set foot on Alcatraz Island…and now I’m thinking I better do it before it’s too late…

Have you been to Alcatraz?