On the waterfront promenade in the general vicinity of the Children's Park
During the 19th Century, the popularity of oysters grew until it peaked in 1902 when 806,363 bushels were harvested. After Chesapeake Bay oyster beds became depleted, Baltimore canneries moved south. Two located in Washington around 1891, J. S. Farren and H. J. McGrath. Both canneries employed hundreds of shuckers, primarily African-Americans, and some probably were children as young as 8 years old. As local oyster beds were exhausted and the harvests declined, both canneries were closed early in the 20th Century.