Market Square, Historic district in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, US
Market Square is a historic district in downtown Knoxville featuring two rows of Victorian-style commercial buildings that frame a central pedestrian area with benches and trees. The space contains about 30 restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues housed in the restored structures.
The district began in 1854 when William Swan and Joseph Mabry donated land to create a marketplace for regional farmers and merchants. During the Civil War, Union forces repurposed the original Market House building as military barracks and ammunition storage.
Musicians perform regularly in the square, and restaurants serve regional specialties from the area. The way locals and visitors gather here shows how the space functions as a social heart of the city.
The square is easy to navigate on foot with multiple entry points from surrounding streets. Parking is available at nearby garages on Locust Street and Walnut Street if you arrive by car.
The original Market House served as ammunition storage and barracks for Union troops during the Civil War. This building still stands in the center of the square as a physical reminder of that unusual chapter in its past.
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