Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Market Square

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

1. Market Square Marker

Inscription. For over a century farm produce was sold here in market sheds and from wagons at the curbs. The first sheds were built soon after the city was laid out in 1785; the last were removed in 1889. Many inns faced the Square.

Erected 1953 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 40° 15.592′ N, 76° 52.885′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is at the intersection of 2nd Street and Market Street on 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 97 Market St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Market Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Dauphin Deposit Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Prelude To Gettysburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Capital Of The Keystone State Preserved! (within shouting distance of

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this marker); Old Dauphin County Courthouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts (within shouting distance of this marker); Market Square Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Hilton Harrisburg and Towers (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Harrisburg Market Square marker.

Also see . . .
1. Market Square - Behind the Marker. ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on July 19, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

2. MarkerQuest - Market Square. (Submitted on August 6, 2025, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)

Market Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, circa March 2006

2. Market Square

Market Square as seen from a new highrise building on the north end of the Square. Market Square Presbyterian Church is believed to be the oldest structure and the only one surviving from the time of the Civil War.

Market Square at Night image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, March 6, 2009

3. Market Square at Night

The north end of the Square, dominated by the Hilton Hotel and Tower, is seen at night.

Pennsylvania National Insurance Company Building in Market Square. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

4. Pennsylvania National Insurance Company Building in Market Square.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,927 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 25, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2010, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on March 25, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.