Market Square Park

Market Square Park is a public park in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. It is bounded by Travis, Milam, Congress and Preston streets. It has remained a geographic centerpiece of Downtown Houston since the arrival of the city's founders, John Kirby and Augustus Chapman Allen in 1836.

Market Square Park
TypeMunicipal (Houston)
LocationDowntown Houston
Coordinates29.76266°N 95.36234°W / 29.76266; -95.36234
Created1854 (1854)
Operated byDowntown Redevelopment Authority
StatusOpen year round

The square was donated to the city in 1854 by Augustus Allen and used as an open air produce market. Very near Allen's Landing, the original port of Houston, the downtown business district grew around the square. Early city landmarks included the briefly used Texas Capitol and White House. In addition, several City Halls rose and fell at Market Square, each destroyed by fire.[1]

The historic square is surrounded by 19th century architecture, housing a variety of businesses, entertainment venues, nightclubs and dining establishments. Market Square is located directly between Allen's Landing and the Theater District.

It is a central feature of the Main Street/Market Square Historic District, a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lauren’s Garden

Former Houston-area resident, Lauren Catuzzi Grandolas, was killed on board United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks. A memorial bust figure of her is positioned next to a water feature and plaque created in her honor at the Congress Street side of the park. [2]


  • City Hall and Market House
  • Main Street, north from Preston Avenue, Houston, Texas (postcard, c. 1905–07)
  • Monument for "Old Market Square Park," Houston
  • View toward Milam Street from Market Square Park, Houston
  • The Rice Hotel (Post Rice Lofts) viewed from Market Square, Houston

See also

References
  1. "Market Square". Parks, City of Houston, www.houstontx.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  2. "Houstonians Pay tribute to 911 victim at Lauren’s Garden in Market Square Park", KHOU-TV, September 11, 2018
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