The National Mall in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sassafras • Wináhk (Wee-nock)
For centuries, Native peoples have used the bark, roots, and leaves of the sassafras tree as medicine and flavoring in food and beverages.
As Native peoples taught settlers how to harvest and use sassafras, demand grew quickly. In the 1700s, it became one of the largest exports to England, second only to tobacco. The Shawnee continue to harvest sassafras today, drinking tea made from root bark to remove impurities from the blood.
Did you know that sassafras root is used as a flavoring in one of the most popular soft drinks, root beer?
Erected by Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1700.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 53.31′ N, 77° 1.001′ W. Marker was in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It was in The National Mall. It could be reached from Jefferson Drive Southwest west of 3rd Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east. On the grounds of the National Museum
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Cardinal Direction Marker: North (within shouting distance of this marker); Rick Bartow (within shouting distance of this marker); George Rivera (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Traditional Croplands (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Upland Hardwood Forest (was a few steps from
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on February 10, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
