The Once Commercial Shoreline

The Once Commercial Shoreline. . , Beyond being a vital natural resource, the Hudson River was, for centuries, the primary vein pumping New York City's industrial heart. By the 19th century, Manhattan's west side waterfront had become the most important port on the East Coast., Many goods arriving by ship were sold at local markets, including the West Washington Market once located here on the Gansevoort Peninsula. Opened in 1887, it featured 10 two-story buildings fronting streets with names like Grace, Laughton, Lowe and Thirteenth Avenues, and sold a wide range of products including poultry, dairy, and meat., Nearby, the Gansevoort Market, located where the Whitney Museum is today, also sold meat. This area eventually became the center of New York City's meat-packing and slaughterhouse operations, and is the reason why the neighborhood is called the Meatpacking District today., The enduring vitality of West Washington Market as a center of commerce stopped New York City from removing landfill at the Gansevoort Peninsula to accommodate the longer ships of the early 20th century. That's why you can still find the last remnant of the former Thirteenth Avenue on the western edge of the Gansevoort Peninsula.