Turbulence and Change

Historical marker location:

4523 15th Street Northwest, Columbia Heights, District of Columbia

( Marker is on Irving Street Northwest near 15th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Reported damaged.)

The '50s and '60s

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.