Since the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the United States has actively pursued military operations both domestic and foreign. Prisoners of war represent a natural consequence of such actions, and throughout history, many of them have been incarcerated within the borders of the United States. Incorporating both existing and purpose-built prisoner facilities, the nation has held over one million prisoners, many transported here from across the globe. Detention facilities existed in almost every state, from large population centers to remote rural areas. Many such facilities have been preserved, while others have been destroyed by the country's expanding population.

Exhaustively researched and thoroughly illustrated, this book seeks to fill a void, examining the history of domestically imprisoned POWs from the Revolutionary War through World War II. In addition to foreign nationals from Asia, Europe and Latin America, even American citizens associated with foreign combatants have had their rights abrogated, as they too were imprisoned without legal recourse. This book presents a history that has long been ignored, and one which has a legacy in many Americans' own backyard.