National Historic Landmark

Market Hall and Sheds

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
June 3, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001689

About this property

City Market is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally significant Market Hall, which faces Meeting Street, through a continuous series of one-story market sheds, the last of which terminates at East Bay Street. The market should not be confused with the Old Slave Mart (now a museum), where enslaved people were sold, as enslaved people were never sold in the City Market (this is a common misconception). The City Market Hall has been described as a building of the "highest architectural design quality." The entire complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Market Hall and Sheds and was further designated a National Historic Landmark. Initially known as the Centre Market, Charleston's City Market was developed to replace the city's Beef Market building (on the site of Charleston City Hall), which burned in 1796. Market Hall, designed by Charleston architect Edward B. White, was added in the early 1840s. Throughout the 19th century, the market provided a convenient place for area farms and plantations to sell beef and produce; it also acted as a place for locals to gather and socialize. Today, the City Market's vendors sell souvenirs and other items ranging from jewelry to Gullah sweetgrass baskets. Since 1899, the City Market has housed Charleston's Confederate Museum.

Location

188 Meeting St.
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.78045, -79.93120

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

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St. Philip's Episcopal Church
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Nearby Battles

Siege of Charleston Apr-May 1780
1780Revolutionary War
0 mi
Siege of Charleston
1780Revolutionary War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Market Hall and Sheds listed on the National Register?

Market Hall and Sheds was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Market Hall and Sheds?

Market Hall and Sheds is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Market Hall and Sheds a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Market Hall and Sheds has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Market Hall and Sheds?

The period of significance for Market Hall and Sheds is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Market Hall and Sheds?

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