Marquis de Lafayette Hall

Historical marker location:

2100 I Street Northwest, Foggy Bottom, District of Columbia

( Marker is on I Street Northwest west of 21st Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1997

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.