City Market, National Historic Landmark marketplace in downtown Charleston, United States.
City Market is a four-block complex in downtown Charleston featuring a Main Hall built in Greek Revival style alongside open-air vendor sections. The space combines an enclosed stone structure with covered outdoor areas where crafts people and merchants display their goods.
The market was established in the 1790s following a fire that destroyed the earlier Beef Market on this site. The prominent Market Hall building was completed in 1841 from a design by architect Edward White.
Local artisans craft and sell Sweetgrass baskets here, a traditional craft rooted in the region's history that visitors can watch being made. The makers are often present and share stories about their families' connection to this skill.
The market is open daily with shops and stalls typically opening in the morning and staying open into the late afternoon. Some areas are covered while others remain open to the weather, so visiting during mild temperatures makes for a more comfortable experience.
The upper floor of the building once served as a Confederate recruitment office during the Civil War era. This space later became a museum displaying objects and documents from that period of American history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
