VENKATESH PRABHU L
At the peak of its use, Alcatraz island was said to be a maximum-security prison meant for high-profile inmates who were hard to be contained elsewhere. Escape from this prison was believed to be next to Impossible given the cold and strong currents of the bay. Before the federal prison, it was a U.S. military fort and military prison from the 1850s, built to protect San Francisco Bay. From 1969 to 1971, a group called Indians of All Tribes occupied the island, claiming it under treaty rights, which became a landmark event in the Native American civil rights movement. Currently, it's a major tourist attraction offering cellhouse tours, gardens, and exhibits on its complex past.






