A National Museum

Historical marker location:

1300 Constitution Avenue Northwest, The National Mall, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) west of 12th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east.)

Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Kenneth E. Behring Center

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.