Lions and Tigers

Historical marker location:

Smithsonian National Zoo, District of Columbia

( Marker is on Olmsted Walk, 0.2 miles west of National Zoo Drive Northwest, on the right when traveling west.)

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.