Cardinal Direction Markers

Historical marker location:

339 Maryland Avenue Southwest, The National Mall, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from Jefferson Drive Southwest east of 3rd Street Southwest, 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.