Central Market
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 of locally produced brick, the Central Market in Lancaster stands on land conveyed in trust in 1730 for a public market. Its front has twin towers about 72 feet high with a gable between them, and its brick walls carry stepped brick capitals, cluster windows and a rock-faced brownstone base. The high roof was built to admit light and air, and the interior has wooden pillars supporting steel-rod Howe trusses above a grid of market stalls. The site's market history runs back through a 1757 market house, an 1798 agreement with Masonic Lodge 43 that produced a building with a second-level hall, and an 1854 market house. The building was listed for its association with the market culture of Lancaster County and for its architecture, which the nomination treats as a representative example of a large market hall of its period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the market is a symbol of the culture of Lancaster County and has served the community as a market site since 1730. Its 1889 building is described as the culmination of a long market history on the site, and its interior of wooden pillars and Howe trusses is presented as a distinctive example of its type.
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 72001127, listed July 12, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | William Henry Pl., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | July 12, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001127 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03841, -76.30654 (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 72001127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1053899
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.