Andrew W. Mellon

Historical marker location:

401 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Federal Triangle, District of Columbia

( Marker is on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest east of 6th Street Northwest (U.S. 50).)

Marker installed: 1951

1855 1937. [Memorial Fountain]

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.