SITE 8.156-157 COMMON STREET, NEW ORLEANS SLAVE DEPOT

The former site of the New Orleans Slave Depot is now occupied by an early 20th-century bank building, with a polished granite foundation, a first and second story made of stone blocks, and brick upper stories.

Present-day Common Street at Baronne

Newpaper ad placed by slave trader Thomas F. Frisby. At the 3-story house at 156 Common Street, he keeps “an assortment of slaves,” including mechanics and field hands, and he can house traveling traders and their slaves.

Ad for New Orleans Slave Depot

A watercolor shows a 2-story red building behind a tall wall. Over the door hangs a “Slaves for Sale” sign. Four enslaved men in suits and top hats are visible on a bench inside. A map shows the location and a plan of the buildings and lot for sale.

Real estate poster for 156 Common Street

Text of ad: “Notice. A likely No. 1 fellow, a first rate Sawyer. For sale at 156 Common street. C. Lamarque, Jr.”

Ad for an enslaved man offered by trader C. LaMarque Jr.

Listen to Track 8 - 156-157 Common Street New Orleans Slave Depot (above).


For the next portion of the tour, you can stay at the corner of Common and Baronne Streets. The luxury apartment building that stands here now occupies the site of the New Orleans Slave Depot, which was demolished long ago. 


Stand on Common Street between Carondelet and Baronne near the riverside corner of Baronne Street. The French Quarter will be at your back and listen to Track 8a- First-Person Testimony of William Wells Brown.

(AUDIO) DIRECTIONS TO SITE 9: CONGO SQUARE