The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Working Waterfront
National Mall and Memorial Parks, Lincoln Memorial
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
If you stood in this spot in the 1800s, you'd be looking out over the biggest dock in Washington, DC. The 17th Street Wharf was built in 1806 for $2,000. It remained the bustling heart of the city until 1902. You might see goods from all over the world, including sandstone to rebuild the White House in 1813. You might hear the shouts of hundreds of dockworkers, many of them enslaved people until the end of the Civil War in 1865. The 17th Street Wharf reached its largest size in 1881, when it was 1,200 feet long and 150 feet wide. That's about the size of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
Can you imagine the National Mall as a bustling port, full of ships and cargo?
[Caption:]
The 17th Street Wharf was so enormous that it supported its own floating restaurant. General H.G. Wright, Army Chief of Engineers, wrote in 1881 about a lunchroom on the wharf operated by an African American man named Henry Hill.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1806.
Location. 38° 53.499′ N, 77° 2.378′
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Let's Ride (a few steps from this marker); Shifting Foundations (within shouting distance of this marker); Silent Witness (within shouting distance of this marker); Lock Keepers House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Washington City Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); Dry Run (within shouting distance of this marker); White House on the Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); Disappearing Act (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Canal Connection (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
