At the Crossroads

Historical marker location:

400 8th Street Southeast, Capitol Hill, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of 8th Street Southeast and Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast, on the left when traveling south on 8th Street Southeast.)

Tour of Duty. Barracks Row 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.