Near Affton in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Slaves Only

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 14, 2012

1. Slaves Only Marker

Inscription. Contrast this simple bead-board door to the finer paneled ones throughout the rest of the house. Its crude appearance suggests only slaves used this door to enter and exit the home.

One method employed to control slaves was to restrict their movements, such as requiring them to enter the house only through back doors like this one. The Dents may have forced slaves at White Haven to use this doorway. Passing through it constantly reminded the slaves of their status.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans.

Location. 38° 33.125′ N, 90° 21.094′ W. Marker is near Affton, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It can be reached from Grant Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7400 Grant Road, Saint Louis MO 63123, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Buildings for White Haven (here, next to this marker); The Roads to White Haven (here, next to this marker); The White Haven Estate: Other Houses (here, next to this marker); The Working Farm (here, next to this marker); Green Haven? (here, next to this marker); Early Owners of the Farm (a few steps from this marker); Outbuildings / ~150 Years Ago—Colored Troops

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(within shouting distance of this marker); A Place Called Home / ~150 Years Ago—Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Affton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. White Haven's Outbuildings (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Bead board door at White Haven image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, June 14, 2012

2. Bead board door at White Haven

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 804 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.