Penn Quarter in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Roots of Freedom and Equality
Civil War to Civil Rights
— Downtown Heritage Trail —
"It is known to you that events have transpired within the last few days, deeply affecting the peace and character of our community."
With these words, city officials tried to calm the angry mob gathering on this corner in April 1848. The crowd blamed the National Era, an abolitionist newspaper with offices located near this sign, for the attempted escape of some 77 enslaved African Americans on the schooner Pearl. The mob threatened to destroy the Era's printing press. The editor, Gamaliel Bailey, was one of many anti-slavery activists who made Washington, D.C. a national center for abolitionist activity. He regularly wrote of the irony of slavery in the capital of a nation dedicated to liberty and equality.
Tragically, most of the captured freedom-seekers were sold and taken south. The mayor and others quelled the potential riot, the National Era survived to continue its mission. In 1851 and 1852 the Era serialized a novel by a little-known author named Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, sold 300,000 copies its first year. The dramatic story intensified anti-slavery feelings and sectional rivalries and, many believe, made war inevitable.
One hundred years later, on this same block, Charles Hamilton Houston continued the struggle for freedom and equality for African Americans. Houston, an attorney practicing at 615 F Street and a professor of law at Howard University, taught Thurgood Marshall the legal strategies that led to the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional (Brown v. Board of Education). Marshall, later a Supreme Court Justice, credited Houston as the person who laid the groundwork for the modern Civil Rights movement.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number .4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights • Communications. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1848.
Location. 38° 53.828′ N, 77° 1.31′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in the Penn Quarter. Marker is at the intersection of 7th Street Northwest and F Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 7th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 575 7th St NW, Washington DC 20004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary Church Terrell (a few steps from this marker); Discover DC / Gallery Place / Arena (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chinese Hackberry Tree (within shouting distance
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 26, 2022
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker which has slightly different text.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 30, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on November 27, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on March 28, 2022, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on December 8, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.