Charleston Old Slave Mart
Encyclopedia
The Old Slave Mart is a building located at 6 Chalmers Street in Charleston, South Carolina
, USA, that once housed an antebellum slave auction gallery. Constructed in 1859, the building is believed to be the last extant slave auction gallery in South Carolina. In 1975, the Old Slave Mart was added to the National Register of Historic Places
for its role in Charleston's African-American history. Today, the building houses the Old Slave Mart Museum.
The Old Slave Mart was originally part of a large slave market known as Ryan's Mart, which covered a large enclosed lot between Chalmers and Queen streets. The market was established in 1856 by Charleston sheriff Thomas Ryan after a citywide ban on public slave auctions made private markets necessary. Slave auctions were held at the site until the Union Army
occupied Charleston and closed Ryan's Mart in 1865. The Old Slave Mart Museum has operated off and on since 1938.
ed facade. The facade (south side) faces the cobblestone
-paved Chalmers Street. The building originally measured 44 feet (13.4 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m), but an extension of the building in 1922 gave it its current dimensions. The unique facade of the Old Slave Mart consists of 20 feet (6.1 m) octagonal pillars at each end, and a central elliptical arch that provides the entrance.
The building's interior originally contained one large room with a 20 feet (6.1 m) ceiling. In 1878, a second floor was added, and the roof was overhauled. The arched entryway originally consisted of an iron gate, but was filled in and converted to simple doors in the late 1870s. Partitions were added in subsequent decades, dividing the first floor into three rooms. An iron gate has since been restored to the archway.
building. After Charleston prohibited public slave auctions in 1856, slave markets sprang up along Chalmers, State, and Queen streets. One such market was Ryan's Mart, established by Charleston sheriff and alderman Thomas Ryan and his business partner, James Marsh. Ryan's Mart originally consisted of a closed lot with three structures— a four-story barracoon, a kitchen, and a morgue.
In 1859, an auction master named Z. B. Oakes purchased Ryan's Mart, and built what is now the Old Slave Mart building for use as an auction gallery. The building's auction table was 3 foot (0.9144 m) high and 10 feet (3 m) long, and stood just inside the arched doorway. Along with slaves, the market also sold real estate and stock
. Slave auctions at Ryan's Mart were advertised in broadsides throughout the 1850s, some appearing as far away as Galveston, Texas
.
When Union forces occupied Charleston toward the end of the Civil War in February 1865, the slaves still imprisoned at Ryan's Mart were freed. In 1878, the Old Slave Mart was converted into a tenement dwelling and a second floor was added. A car dealership and showroom operated in the building in the 1920s, necessitating the expansion of the rear of the building. In 1938, Miriam B. Wilson purchased the building and established the Old Slave Mart Museum, which initially displayed African and African-American art. The City of Charleston and the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission restored the Old Slave Mart in the late 1990s. The museum now interprets the history of the city's slave trade. The area behind the building, which once contained the barracoon and kitchen, is now a parking lot.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, USA, that once housed an antebellum slave auction gallery. Constructed in 1859, the building is believed to be the last extant slave auction gallery in South Carolina. In 1975, the Old Slave Mart was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its role in Charleston's African-American history. Today, the building houses the Old Slave Mart Museum.
The Old Slave Mart was originally part of a large slave market known as Ryan's Mart, which covered a large enclosed lot between Chalmers and Queen streets. The market was established in 1856 by Charleston sheriff Thomas Ryan after a citywide ban on public slave auctions made private markets necessary. Slave auctions were held at the site until the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
occupied Charleston and closed Ryan's Mart in 1865. The Old Slave Mart Museum has operated off and on since 1938.
Design
The Old Slave Mart is a 67 feet (20.4 m) by 19 feet (5.8 m) brick structure with a stuccoStucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
ed facade. The facade (south side) faces the cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
-paved Chalmers Street. The building originally measured 44 feet (13.4 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m), but an extension of the building in 1922 gave it its current dimensions. The unique facade of the Old Slave Mart consists of 20 feet (6.1 m) octagonal pillars at each end, and a central elliptical arch that provides the entrance.
The building's interior originally contained one large room with a 20 feet (6.1 m) ceiling. In 1878, a second floor was added, and the roof was overhauled. The arched entryway originally consisted of an iron gate, but was filled in and converted to simple doors in the late 1870s. Partitions were added in subsequent decades, dividing the first floor into three rooms. An iron gate has since been restored to the archway.
History
Throughout the first half of the 19th century, slaves brought into Charleston were sold at public auctions held on the north side of the Exchange and ProvostExchange and Provost
Exchange and Provost, also known as the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Custom House and Half-Moon Battery, and The Exchange, was built in 1767....
building. After Charleston prohibited public slave auctions in 1856, slave markets sprang up along Chalmers, State, and Queen streets. One such market was Ryan's Mart, established by Charleston sheriff and alderman Thomas Ryan and his business partner, James Marsh. Ryan's Mart originally consisted of a closed lot with three structures— a four-story barracoon, a kitchen, and a morgue.
In 1859, an auction master named Z. B. Oakes purchased Ryan's Mart, and built what is now the Old Slave Mart building for use as an auction gallery. The building's auction table was 3 foot (0.9144 m) high and 10 feet (3 m) long, and stood just inside the arched doorway. Along with slaves, the market also sold real estate and stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
. Slave auctions at Ryan's Mart were advertised in broadsides throughout the 1850s, some appearing as far away as Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
.
When Union forces occupied Charleston toward the end of the Civil War in February 1865, the slaves still imprisoned at Ryan's Mart were freed. In 1878, the Old Slave Mart was converted into a tenement dwelling and a second floor was added. A car dealership and showroom operated in the building in the 1920s, necessitating the expansion of the rear of the building. In 1938, Miriam B. Wilson purchased the building and established the Old Slave Mart Museum, which initially displayed African and African-American art. The City of Charleston and the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission restored the Old Slave Mart in the late 1990s. The museum now interprets the history of the city's slave trade. The area behind the building, which once contained the barracoon and kitchen, is now a parking lot.