Prisons, Paroles & POWs Old Capitol Prison The American Bastille After the British burned the U.S. Capitol during the War of 1812, Congress built a brick building on 1st St. in Washington to serve as a temporary capitol. The building became known as the Old Capitol after Congress moved back to its permanent home, and it began a new life as a fashionable boardinghouse. Sen. John C. Calhoun was ...