Alley Life

Historical marker location:

905 O Street Northwest, Shaw, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of O Street Northwest and 9th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east on O Street Northwest.)

Marker installed: 2006

Midcity at the Crossroads. Shaw Heritage Trail

The city was built on a swamp: The area that is now Washington, D.C. was originally a swampy, marshy region along the Potomac River. The construction of the city involved extensive drainage and landfill projects to make the land suitable for building.