The U.S. Gets A New Capitol - For One Day (1814) [Archive Favorite]

This Day

Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia

History

4.6 • 982 Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2025

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s August 26th. This day in 1814, the small town of Brookeville, MD becomes the Capitol of the United States — for one night.

Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Brookeville became the seat of government amidst the chaos of the War of 1812. Plus, a bonus conversation about another story on this day, from 1970 — the bombing of a research facility at the University of Wisconsin.

Thanks to Ana and Chris, the listeners who wrote in to suggest these two stories!

Don't forget to sign up for our America250 Watch newsletter, where you'll also get links and lots more historical tidbits.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey there, Jody here from This Day headquarters.
0:05.5	We are taking our usual late summer break.
0:08.0	So for the next couple weeks, we are bringing you some favorites from the archives.
0:12.2	Maybe you've heard them before.
0:13.3	Maybe you haven't.
0:14.1	Either way, we think these are worth spending some time with.
0:16.4	And thanks to everyone who subscribes to our newsletter who helped vote on which episodes to rerun.
0:22.2	This is a gentle reminder to subscribe to the newsletter.
0:25.0	Also spread the word about the show to someone, leave a review, get in touch with an idea for an episode at thisdaypod.com, and most importantly, enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
0:34.7	All right, here we go.
0:39.9	Hello and welcome to This day in esoteric political history from Radiotopia. My name is
0:44.9	Jody Abergain. This day, August 26, 1814, let's travel to the town of Brookfield, Maryland.
0:57.6	It's about 12 or 15 miles north of Washington, D.C.
1:05.4	On this day, Brookville consists of about 15 houses, a tannery, a blacksmith, a store, several mills, a nice little town.
1:09.6	And also on this day, it is the capital of the United States of America.
1:10.9	That is right. On the night of August 26th, James Madison, President of the United States of America. That is right.
1:14.9	On the night of August 26th, James Madison, President of the United States, came through Brookfield as he was fleeing a burning Washington, D.C.
1:18.1	He spent the night, then kept it moving the next day, but that night spent in
1:22.3	Brookfield was apparently enough to make Brookfield the U.S. capital for a day.
1:27.3	I will just say this is maybe not surprising, but the first thing you see when you look at Brookfield, Maryland, online, there is a plaque.
1:33.7	The city is very proud of it.
1:35.3	And we also have gotten emails from listeners about it.
	...

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