Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Historical marker location:

229 First Street Southwest, Southwest Federal Center, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from 1st Street Southwest south of Independence Avenue Southwest, on the left when traveling south.)

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

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.