Alcatraz Closes: The End of an Era
The U.S. government shut down Alcatraz after decades of mounting costs and failed escape attempts turned the island into a financial drain rather than a secure fortress. This closure immediately sparked the "Alcatraz Is Not For Sale" occupation by Native American activists, who seized the site to demand federal recognition of indigenous rights and land sovereignty.
March 21, 1963
63 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on March 21
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Emperor Heraclius marched into Jerusalem to reclaim the True Cross, a relic stolen by the Sassanid Persians during their conquest of the city. This triumphant r…
Byzantine emperor Heraclius marched into Jerusalem to return the True Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, ending a grueling fourteen-year war with the Sa…
Charles Martel crushed the forces of Neustria at the Battle of Vincy, ending the challenge to his authority as Mayor of the Palace. By securing this victory, he…
She was the richest woman in Europe, and Louis VII just handed her back. The annulment freed Eleanor of Aquitaine from France's king—along with her entire duchy…
He was two years old. Emperor Antoku became Japan's 81st emperor after his grandfather, the ruthless Taira no Kiyomori, forced his father to abdicate in a power…
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