Alexandria, Virginia. Slave Pen. (Price, Birch & Co. Dealers In Slaves) (U.S. Civil War) Pint Glass 16oz

Alexandria, Virginia. Slave Pen. (Price, Birch & Co. Dealers In Slaves) (U.S. Civil War) The title references a historical site in Alexandria, Virginia, known as the 'Slave Pen.' This building, located on 1316 Prince Street, was used as a slave market during the pre-Civil War era. The business operating at this location was Price, Birch & Co., one of the most prominent slave-trading firms in Washington, D.C. and Alexandria. The building served as an auction house for slaves, with records suggesting that between 1850 and 1862, more than 10,000 enslaved people were sold through its doors. The Slave Pen was a symbol of the brutal institution of slavery in the United States during the antebellum period, ultimately contributing to the tensions leading up to the American Civil War. Today, the site stands as a reminder of this dark chapter in American history and is managed by the Alexandria Black History Museum.