Allegheny Center in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Site of the Western Penitentiary

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 24, 2019

1. Site of the Western Penitentiary Marker

Inscription. Erected 1826. Razed 1880.
Where August 5, 1863 to March 18, 1864, were incarcerated 118 officers of General John H. Morgan's cavalry, C.S.A. the only Confederate prisoners of war held in Pittsburgh who had surrendered near Lisbon, Ohio, July 26, 1863.

Erected 1931 by The Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Pittsburgh Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1864.

Location. 40° 27.189′ N, 80° 0.59′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Allegheny Center. It can be reached from Arch Street. Located in the Eagle enclosure at the National Aviary, North Side, Pittsburgh (mounted on shallow stone mount on the ground).
Must pay admission to National Aviary to view marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Arch Street, Pittsburgh PA 15212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern

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Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battleship Maine Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Alumni Veterans Honor Roll (about 500 feet away); Allegheny High School (about 500 feet away); Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church (about 500 feet away); (re) CARstruction (about 600 feet away); Peter C. Reiners Soldiers' Monument (about 700 feet away); Allegheny County Soldier's Monument (about 800 feet away); Allegheny Post Office (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . . National Aviary. (Submitted on February 24, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker to be removed.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, responsible for Pennsylvania's historical markers, began

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 24, 2019

2. Site of the Western Penitentiary Marker

Being closely watched over by an American Bald Eagle

a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) review of its markers. The Commission decided to remove this marker because it referenced the facility was once used to house Confederate prisoners during the Civil War.

— Submitted October 29, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,338 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 24, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.