Live Oaks: Specimens of Global, Scholarly and Public Research

Historical marker location:

1500 Constitution Avenue Northwest, The National Mall, District of Columbia

( Marker is on 15th Street Northwest just south of Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50), on the left when traveling south.)

The District was a major center of the slave trade in the 19th century: Prior to the Civil War, Washington, D.C. was home to one of the largest slave markets in the country. Slaves were bought and sold in public auctions held in the city, and many prominent politicians and businessmen owned slaves.