Mount Vernon near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Slave Cabin

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 25, 2021

1. Slave Cabin Marker

Inscription.
This cabin represents dwellings inhabited by enslaved people who worked on Washington's outlying farm. Groups of cabins were arranged opposite an overseer's house.

At Dogue Run Farm, where Washington's 16-sided treading barn was originally located, the enslaved family "Silla" and her husband "Slammin" Joe, lived a cabin much like this one. A 1799 census indicated that Silla and Joe had six children. Sophia (age 14) Savary (age 13) Penny (age 11) Israel (age 10) Israis (age 3) and Christopher (age 1 year).

While Silla, a field hand, worked at Dogue Run Farm, Joe worked as a ditcher at the Mansion House Farm. During their work week—Monday through Saturday—the couple lived apart. On Saturday nights, Joe would walk the roughly 3 miles to Dogue Run Farm to spend the weekend with his family.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1799.

Location. 38° 42.422′ N, 77° 5.459′ W. Marker

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is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Mount Vernon. It can be reached from the intersection of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (Virginia Route 235) and George Washington Memorial Parkway, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria VA 22309, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tomb of Washington (a few steps from this marker); Sunrise to Sunset (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington's Forest (within shouting

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 25, 2021

2. Slave Cabin Marker

distance of this marker); Other Useful Resources (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington's Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); Domestic Animals (within shouting distance of this marker); Creatures in the Forest (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Additional keywords. slave labor

Slave Cabin interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 9, 2025

3. Slave Cabin interior

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 9, 2025

4. Slave Cabin interior

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 269 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on August 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.