Cathedral Heights Business District

Historical marker location:

3238 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, McLean Gardens, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue Northwest and Macomb Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south on Wisconsin Avenue Northwest.)

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.