Enslaved Labor and Building the Smithsonian: Reading the Stones

Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Anthropology and Museum Studies

Publication Date

12-12-2012

Abstract

Mark Auslander examines evidence that enslaved persons were involved in the construction of the original Smithsonian Building in Washington, D.C. Many enslaved workers who labored at the Maryland quarry from which all the building's "freestone" or sandstone blocks were obtained had roots in enslaved families held by Martha Custis Washington at Mt. Vernon.

Comments

See also:

Roig-Franzia, M. (2012, December 13). Researcher find slaves quarried sandstone used to build Smithsonian Castle. The Washington Post.

n.a. (2012). Public history and Smithsonian slavery. Cultural Environments.

Journal

Southern Spaces

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