Washington: The Man

Historical marker location:

The National Mall, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from 15th Street Southwest north of Jefferson Drive Southwest, on the right when traveling south.)

National Mall and Memorial Parks. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

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.