Findlay Market Building
Why it's listed
Findlay Market is a public market house in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, set on an esplanade running the 400-foot block between Race and Elm Streets. A square, two-story brick center section with a hipped slate roof and round arched portals is flanked by one-and-a-half-story iron post and truss wings holding the market stalls. Three- and four-story Italianate buildings frame the market along Elder Street, and on market days the lanes beside it fill with covered fruit and vegetable stands. The land was given to the city in 1852 by the executors of General James Findlay's estate, on condition that a market be built and maintained in his memory. Williams, Adams & Company built the cast iron pavilion by Christmas of that year for $1,493.63. The center portion dates to 1902, and a 1915 remodeling added the wooden stall enclosures. Used continuously as a market, it is one of only two public markets left in the city and the only one with a market building.
Significance in brief: The market was created when the executors of James Findlay's estate gave the city land in 1852 on condition that a market be built and maintained in his memory. It has been in continuous use as a market since it was built. It is one of two remaining public markets in Cincinnati and the only one with a market building. The form also treats it as the focal point of a neighborhood renewal plan.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001020, listed June 5, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Esplanade at Elder St., between Elm and Race Sts., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | June 5, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1852) |
| Architect / builder | Contractor: Williams, Adams & Company |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition, in continuous use as a market since its erection, with a plan calling for restoration of the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Over-the-Rhine Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.11532, -84.51899 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5449993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.