One of the still-standing witnesses to the history of slavery in the United States is the Old Slave Mart in Charleston, South Carolina. The Old Slave Mart is the only remaining building used as a marketplace where African-American slaves were sold and bought. It was part of a building complex known as Ryan?s Mart, which was constructed in 1859. This establishment was founded as a way to go around a city ordinance banning public slave auctions. The slave mart then served as a black market for slaves who were traded secretly.

The Old Slave Mart is notable for its Gothic Revival and Romanesque style of construction. It was made of bricks. Its unique fa?ade features a 20-foot octagonal pillars and a heavy iron door at its elliptical arch entrance. For its role in African-American history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.