1862 Hoffman and Knickerbocker Map of the West Washington Market, Manhattan

This is a fascinating 1862 Hoffman and Knickerbocker map of the West Washington Market in Lower Manhattan - a little-known page in NYC lore. This market, which housed stalls for private merchants and had its own 'street grid', stood where Brookfield Place Mall is today.

A Closer Look

Depicting Lower Manhattan from the Hudson River to Greenwich Street and from Vesey Street to Dey Street, the West Washington Market dominates the space west of West Street. Streets and city blocks are measured in feet and low and high water marks are illustrated.

West Washington Market

The West Washington Market, an extension of the Washington Market (built between 1812 and 1813 between Fulton and West Streets), was built in 1858. It was located west of West Street between Dey and Vesey, on the Hudson River. It burned at least twice: once in 1860 and again in 1867. The market moved uptown in 1867 to Gansevoort Street and was across West Street from the Gansevoort Market. The new uptown West Washington Market sold meat, poultry, and dairy products. This 'new' market was demolished in 1954.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by Hoffman, Knickerbocker and Company in 1862. We note one other cataloged example which is part of the collection at the New York Public Library.