Lexington Market
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Lexington Market (originally, Western Precincts Market) is a historic market in
Downtown Baltimore Downtown Baltimore is the central business district of the Baltimore, city of Baltimore traditionally bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Baltimore), Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the west, List of streets in Baltimore#F, Frank ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
. Established in 1782, the market is now housed in a 60,000-square-foot market shed building completed in 2022 that is home to 50 merchants and kiosks. Lexington Market is located near the
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and Baltimore Metro Subway stops of the same name, about six blocks north of
Oriole Park at Camden Yards Oriole Park at Camden Yards, commonly known as Camden Yards, is a ballpark in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s Baltimore Orioles, and the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the ...
. It is owned by the City of Baltimore and managed by the nonprofit Baltimore Public Markets Corporation.


History

Lexington Market is one of the longest-running public markets in the nation, having been around since 1782. The land for the original market was donated by General John Eager Howard, a famous
Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...
commander of the Maryland Line regiment. The land came from his estate "Belvedere" (also known as "Howard's Woods) west and north of what was then Baltimore Town. The market originally operated without sheds and stalls. Farmers from Towson and Reisterstown would load up their horse-drawn wagons with ham, butter, eggs and produce, while watermen would bring their catches from the Chesapeake Bay. Originally, the market was open on Tuesdays, Friday, and Saturday from 2 a.m. until noon. A bell would ring to start and end the market day. In 1871, a shed was built for the market. After the shed was destroyed in a 1949 fire, the city built the "East Market" building at
Paca A paca ia a rodent in South and Central America. Paca or PACA may also refer to: People * William Paca (1740–1799), a Founding Father of the United States * Paca Blanco (Francisca Blanco Díaz, born 1949), Spanish activist * Paca Navas (Franc ...
and Lexington Streets. A project to build a new market shed building began in 2020 and was completed in late 2022, when the East Market building was closed and slated for future development. The history of
slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
at Lexington Market includes both enslaved people as market workers and the sale of enslaved people at the market. In 2022, a sculpture was unveiled at Lexington Market called ''Robert and Rosetta'', depicting an enslaved market worker named Robert and an enslaved girl named Rosetta who was auctioned off at the market. Robert was enslaved by former Maryland Governor George Howard and forced to sell butter, but later escaped to freedom. An advertisement for the sale of Rosetta was featured in the ''
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'' in March, 1838.


Food

There are many shops featuring deli sandwiches, fried chicken, Chinese food, pizza, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, peanuts, and authentic ethnic foods - as well as a historic shoe repair stand and florist. Lexington Market is a popular lunch spot for working Baltimoreans as well as students at the nearby
University of Maryland, Baltimore The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is a public university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1807, it is the second oldest college in Maryland and comprises some of the oldest professional schools of dentistry, law, me ...
campus and the
University of Baltimore The University of Baltimore (UBalt, UB) is a public university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is part of the University System of Maryland. UBalt consists of four colleges in applied arts and sciences, Robert G. Merrick School of Bu ...
. Perhaps the best-known eatery at Lexington Market is Faidley's Seafood, known for its crabcakes and featured in 2012 on the " Mid-Atlantic" episode of the
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show, '' Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America''. Market Bakery sells "
Berger Cookies Berger Cookies are a handmade cookie made and marketed by DeBaufre Bakeries of Baltimore, Maryland. The cookies are widely known for their thick, chocolate frosting on an imperfectly shaped shortbread cookie. Similar to a black and white cook ...
", shortbread cookies topped with fudge that are a Baltimore favorite.


As a Baltimore icon

Lexington Market is viewed by many as a place that shows the personality of the "real" Baltimore, as opposed to the more generic and tourist-oriented attractions found at the nearby
Inner Harbor The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and landmark in Baltimore, Maryland. It was described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as "the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world". The Inner Harbo ...
. Lexington Market takes part in the festivities leading up to the
Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...
horse race by hosting the Preakness Crab Derby, where local business leaders and celebrities race the crustaceans on the arcade stage to raise money for charity. ''
Baltimore City Paper ''Baltimore City Paper'' was a free alternative weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, founded in 1977 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch. The most recent owner was the Baltimore Sun Media Group, which purchased the pape ...
'' named Lexington Market the "Best Way to Introduce Outsiders to Baltimore" in 2001 and the "Best Place to Take Out of Town Visitors" in 2006. In 2022, the Market was included on a ''Food & Wine'' list of the best food experiences in Baltimore. From time to time, the Lexington Market's east building hosted
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
bands during the lunch hour on Fridays and Saturdays. Particularly during the Christmas season, it has also hosted presentations by nearby public elementary and middle schools and private schools, such as West Cold Spring Lane's Baltimore Jr. Academy.


See also

* Merchants' Exchange Building (Baltimore)


References


External links

* {{coord, 39.29189, N, 76.62175, W, source:placeopedia, display=title 1782 establishments in Maryland Buildings and structures in Baltimore Downtown Baltimore Food markets in the United States Food retailers History of Baltimore History of slavery in Maryland Market halls in the United States Neighborhoods in Baltimore Slave markets in the United States