ses and other buildings absorbed much of the salt from the air and were quickly disintegrating. This is why it was so easy for this last escape to take place. It was estimated that it would take close to 5 million dollars to repair Alcatraz. That was a cost that the government was not willing to spend. The operating costs of Alcatraz were also looked over. The cost of shipping food and other supplies to the island was becoming more expensive and it was found that it was no longer cost efficient to keep The Rock in use. In 1963 Alcatraz was closed down by the decision of Robert F. Kennedy. Despite the closing of Alcatraz as a prison, there is still activity among these rocks.This island, formerly a place of solitude and desolation, now serves as a National Park and museum. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was established in 1972 and Alcatraz was included as one of these parks. Over one million people visit The Rock each year, including tourists from around the globe. The island of Alcatraz has become one of the most popular attractions in the Bay Area and its stories live on....
