Images of NYC’s Market Heritage: Fulton Fish Market

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1935). Fulton fish market in Manhattan – [North Atlantic fish trawler – North Dock – East River Pier No.18.] Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-9940-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

The New York Public Library has released 180,000 historic images into the public domain. I searched the database for images of New York’s historic markets, and I found some wonderful ones. I published several images of the beautiful Washington Market last week.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1950s). Fulton Fish Market Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/e642eeb0-e04a-0131-55c8-58d385a7bbd0

This week, I am happy to feature the Fulton Fish Market, one of the country’s oldest markets, established in 1822 and still in operation. The market’s original location was on Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan’s busy East River seaport. In 1907, the fish market moved into the Tin Building across the street, and then into the New Market Building in 1939. In 2005, the market relocated to Hunts Point in the Bronx. Fortunately, unlike the Washington Market, the Fulton Fish Market is still going strong. In fact, it is the second largest fish market in the world for volume of seafood moved through it every year, just behind Japan’s famous Tsujiki Fish Market.

One of my favorite New York artists is Naima Rauam, known for her paintings and sketches of the Fulton Fish Market. She used to sell her paintings in the former Fulton Stall Market, where she told me many stories about the time she spent among the fishmongers.

Unfortunately, I didn’t spend a lot of time in the market when it was in the Seaport. I remember visiting once in 1987. I have a vague memory of visiting the market with my dad when I was a little kid as well. It’s one of those scent-related memories, for obvious reasons.

I don’t know what the future of the old Fulton Fish Market buildings holds. At one point, great efforts went into reestablishing a food market there. There are new plans on the table for a 10-story hotel, very tall for the area but a vast improvement over earlier plans for a 42-story residential tower. Hopefully, whatever goes in the site will respect and celebrate its history as one of the great markets of New York City.

~Karen Seiger, Markets Of New York

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. (1840). Panoramic view of New York (taken from the North River). Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-7c60-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. (1828). Fulton St. & Market. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-2820-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

rt and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1877). The Trout Display In Fulton Market, March 16th. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e0-d813-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1920). Fulton Fish Market. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-9908-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1934). Fulton fish market docks in Manhattan – [Hoisting fish from schooner.] Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-993a-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1935). Fulton Street Fish Market, Manhattan. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-4f8d-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1935). Fulton fish market in Manhattan – [North Dock – East River Pier No.18.] Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-993e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1936). Fulton fish market in Manhattan. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-994c-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

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