State, War, and Navy Building

Historical marker location:

700 Jackson Place Northwest, Downtown Washington, District of Columbia

( Marker is on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest east of 17th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1972

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.