Fishmarket Square

Fishmarket Square

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

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Scenic View/Photo Spot

Where's the market? While the current brick plaza was constructed in the 1980s, the history goes back to the 1790s. Before the canal was built, this plaza and the space on the other side of the canal was market and jail. Across the canal is the 1865 Market building, built to replace the 1795 market. After the canal cut the market in two, this portion became a fish market.

Surrounding this open area were some of the many mills and other industrial structures that were once an important part of Georgetown's economy. You can still see portions of the a few the industrial buildings. The section of Georgetown between the river and M street, including the canal, was once an industrial area. These mills were powered with water from the canal which was another form of income for the canal company.