A 19th-century photo of the Winder Building, built in 1848 by a real estate developer is still in use as a government building. I remember reading somewhere that President Lincoln used to walk over there to talk with the guards and to “interview” the captured soldiers. Nevertheless, the U.S. Quartermaster General and Army Ordnance departments were there during the Civil War, and Lincoln did visit. William Winder was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government and spent 14 months in federal custody before being released. Other occupants of the Winder Building over the years included the commissioner of pensions and the surgeon general.

Source: Washington Post June 01, 2019 21:22 UTC