Lumber Shed - Form and Function

Historical marker location:

301 Water Street Southeast, Navy Yard, District of Columbia

( Marker is on Water Street Southeast near 3rd Street Southeast, on the right when traveling east.)

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.