Downtown Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Confederate Prison Compound

Photographed By Brian Anderson, July 6, 2018

1. Site of Confederate Prison Compound Marker

Inscription. Before 1861, site of warehouse serving Buffalo Bayou shipping. At times during 1861-65, the building here housed prisoners of war. In Jan. 1863 it held 350 Federals captured by Houston-based Confederate army of Gen. John B. Magruder. The city also had two other compounds where prisoners of war were held.

Among many Houston enterprises vital to the Confederacy were troop training fields, military hospitals, an ammunition depot, two foundries, five railroads.

City was headquarters for the Military District of Texas, which included Arizona and New Mexico.

Erected 1965 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 10635.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1863.

Location. 29° 46.003′ N, 95° 21.58′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Downtown Houston. Marker is on Girard Street east of Travis Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located in the small park next to the Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center, on the campus of the University of Houston-Downtown. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Girard Street, Houston TX 77002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Merchants and Manufacturers Building (about 400 feet away, measured

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

in a direct line); Magnolia Brewery Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Houston Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade (approx. ¼ mile away); The Kennedy Bakery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Market Square (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sweeney, Coombs & Fredericks Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pillot Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harris County (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Photographed By Brian Anderson, July 6, 2018

2. Site of Confederate Prison Compound Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 401 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.