Murder Bay In the years preceding the Civil War, the area bordered by Pennsylvania Ave., 15th, and the "open sewer" of the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/41">Washington Canal</a> was a slum characterized by rampant prostitution, muggings, and robberies. The population of this area increased during the Civil War as soldiers took advantage of Murder Bay's cheap alcohol and <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/6">brothels</a>. This area eventually came to be known as <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/297">"Hooker's Division"</a> or just "Division," and became a destination for former slaves. Reform movements in the late 1800s generally failed, but in 1928, the city leveled Murder Bay and began building Federal Triangle in its place. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. <a href="http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3851e.awh00008">View original</a>. 1928 (destroyed) <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1830-1859">1830-1859</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1920-1949">1920-1949</a>