Administration Building, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Historical marker location:

1501 16th Street Northwest, Dupont Circle, District of Columbia

( Marker is on 16th Street Northwest east of P Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1965

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.