Early Entrepreneurs

Historical marker location:

1401 Rittenhouse Street Northwest, Brightwood, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of 14th Street Northwest and Rittenhouse Street Northwest, on the left when traveling north on 14th Street Northwest.)

Marker installed: 2008

Battleground to Community. Brightwood Heritage Trail.

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.