Old Brick Capitol

Old Brick Capitol
Part of American Civil War prison camps
The former Old Brick Capitol building serving as a prison during the American Civil War, 1861-1865
TypeUnited States Capitol (1815–1819)
Union Prison Camp (1861–1865)
Site information
OwnerU.S. federal government
Controlled byUnion Army
Open to
the public
No
Site history
Built1815
In use1815–1819
1861–1867
Materialsbrick
Demolished1929
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Garrison information
OccupantsUnion soldiers, Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, spies, Union officers convicted of insubordination, and local D.C. prostitutes

The Old Brick Capitol in Washington, D.C., served as the temporary meeting place of the Congress of the United States from 1815 to 1819, while the Capitol Building was rebuilt after the burning of Washington.

"Old Brick" served as a private school, a boarding house, and, during the American Civil War, a prison known as the Old Capitol Prison. It was demolished in 1929, and its site is now occupied by the U.S. Supreme Court building.