Southwest Federal Center in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Williams Slave Pen

October 16, 2017

1. The Williams Slave Pen Marker

Inscription.

The Williams Slave Pen. . , In 1841, Solomon Northup, a free Black man and professional musician, was drugged, kidnapped, and sold as a slave while visiting Washington, DC to attend the funeral of President William Henry Harrison. Eventually, Northup regained his freedom and documented the experience in his book, Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup (1853). The book includes a firsthand account of the Williams Slave Pen, where Northup was imprisoned:,

"The yard extended rearward from the house about thirty feet. In one part of the wall there was a strongly ironed door, opening into a narrow, covered passage, leading along one side of the house into the street. The doom of the colored man, upon who the door leading out of that narrow passage closed, was sealed. The top of the wall supported one end of a roof, which ascended inwards forming a kind of open shed. Underneath the roof there was a crazy loft all round, where slaves, if so disposed, might sleep at night, or in inclement weather seek shelter from the storm. It was like a farmer's barnyard in most respects, save it was so constructed that the outside world could never see the human cattle that were herded there., The building to which the yard was attached, was two stories high, fronting on one of the public streets of Washington, its outside presented only the appearance of a quiet private residence. A stranger looking at it, would never have dreamed of its execrable uses. Strange as it may seem, within plain sight of this same house, looking down from its commanding height upon it, was the Capitol."

, [Sidebar:] ,

"Underneath the roof there was a crazy loft all round, where slaves, if so disposed, might sleep at night, or in inclement weather seek shelter from the storm. It was like a farmer's barnyard in most respects, safe it was so constructed that the outside world could never see the human cattle that were herded there." Solomon Northrup (1853)

, Williams Slave Pen , An infamous slave pen, owned by W.H. Williams, once stood near the corner of 7th Street and Independence Avenue (formerly B Street), Southwest. A seemingly innocuous yellow house, set back from the street in a grove of trees, concealed from view a brick-walled yard, in which enslaved persons were held, awaiting transport to southern markets. It was one of the most lucrative of the slave pens operating in Washington, DC in the years before the Civil War. Williams had purchased an existing slave pen because of its advantageous location on 7th Street, with direct access to the District's waterfront shipping piers on the Potomac River.

In 1841, Solomon Northup, a free Black man and professional musician, was drugged, kidnapped, and sold as a slave while visiting Washington, DC to attend the funeral of President William Henry Harrison. Eventually, Northup regained his freedom and documented the experience in his book, Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup (1853). The book includes a firsthand account of the Williams Slave Pen, where Northup was imprisoned:

"The yard extended rearward from the house about thirty feet. In one part of the wall there was a strongly ironed door, opening into a narrow, covered passage, leading along one side of the house into the street. The doom of the colored man, upon who the door leading out of that narrow passage closed, was sealed. The top of the wall supported one end of a roof, which ascended inwards forming a kind of open shed. Underneath the roof there was a crazy loft all round, where slaves, if so disposed, might sleep at night, or in inclement weather seek shelter from the storm. It was like a farmer's barnyard in most respects, save it was so constructed that the outside world could never see the human cattle that were herded there.

The building to which the yard was attached, was two stories high, fronting on one of the public streets of Washington, its outside presented
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only the appearance of a quiet private residence. A stranger looking at it, would never have dreamed of its execrable uses. Strange as it may seem, within plain sight of this same house, looking down from its commanding height upon it, was the Capitol."

[Sidebar:]

"Underneath the roof there was a crazy loft all round, where slaves, if so disposed, might sleep at night, or in inclement weather seek shelter from the storm. It was like a farmer's barnyard in most respects, safe it was so constructed that the outside world could never see the human cattle that were herded there." Solomon Northrup (1853)

Williams Slave Pen
An infamous slave pen, owned by W.H. Williams, once stood near the corner of 7th Street and Independence Avenue (formerly B Street), Southwest. A seemingly innocuous yellow house, set back from the street in a grove of trees, concealed from view a brick-walled yard, in which enslaved persons were held, awaiting transport to southern markets. It was one of the most lucrative of the slave pens operating in Washington, DC in the years before the Civil War. Williams had purchased an existing slave pen because of its advantageous location on 7th Street, with direct access to the District's waterfront shipping piers on the Potomac River.

Erected by

October 16, 2017

2. The Williams Slave Pen Marker

U.S. General Services Administration.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #09 William Henry Harrison series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 38° 53.237′ N, 77° 1.338′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Southwest Federal Center. Marker is on Independence Avenue Southwest west of 7th Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington DC 20591, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Slave Trade in Washington, DC (here, next to this marker); 320th Bomb Group (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pumpkin, 2016 (about 400 feet away); Double Candle, 2018 (about 400 feet away); First International Manned Space Mission (about 400 feet away); Earth Day Park (about 500 feet away); Uranus (about 500 feet away); Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Plaza (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.

Additional keywords. Human trafficking

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2017. This page has been viewed 2,181 times since then and 314 times this year. Last updated on February 13, 2019. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 16, 2017. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.