Julia Ward Howe

Historical marker location:

1401 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Penn Quarter, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest and 14th Street Northwest (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest.)

Marker installed: 1938

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.