Findlay in February

On Saturday Amy and I left the Museum Center after seeing a small exhibit about Findlay Market and decided to visit the market itself.  I plugged the address into our GPS and verified on the market's website (http://www.findlaymarket.org) that free parking was available nearby.  Look it up for yourself on Google Maps where you can see a good overhead view of the market.

The drive over didn't even involved too many turns, though it definitely went through older areas of town.  I've lived in suburbs all my life and haven't spent that much time in downtown or old residential/commercial areas.

This history of the market is quite fascinating:

Findlay Market is the only surviving municipal market house of the nine public markets operating in Cincinnati in the 19th and early 20th century. The market house is built on land donated to the City of Cincinnati by the estate of General James Findlay (1770 - 1835) and Jane Irwin Findlay (1769 - 1851). Findlay Market is Ohio's oldest surviving municipal market house. It was designed under the direction of City Civil Engineer Alfred West Gilbert (1816-1900) using a durable but unconventional cast and wrought iron frame, a construction technology that had been little used in the United States.  Read more at the Market's history page, including stories of Cincinnati's other markets.

We found a parking spot without too much trouble (though there didn't look to be too many available).

After I updated my status on Facebook (I love geo-tagging posts) we headed towards the market.

The Farmers market area (an overhang built in 1999 because the main part of the market was enclosed in the early 1900s and is occupied by fairly permanent stalls) is only open April through November.

We're planning at least to go back and visit that another time.

Between the parking lot and the market proper are several small restaurants that apparently do a bustling business on the weekends (and perhaps other times).  In the background of the above picture you can see the central tower of the market--I believe there is a bell there moved from one of Cincinnati's other markets when it closed.

There is also an office for the market in one of these buildings and there are several maps sprinkled throughout the area.  Check out the map on the website if you want to plan a visit.

Several doors provide entry into the market.  In fact many of the shops on the outer edge had roll up doors that they could open.  Some had left them closed to form a pathway closer to the core of the building, while others had opened them up and oriented their booths so that people could easily walk up to them from outside.

At first when I looked into the main doors I was a bit confused, since it almost looked like you were walking into a restaurant.  But then I realized that you were walking into narrow aisleways between booths.

Inside the market itself there is a high arched ceiling most clearly visible over the central aisle-way which is lined by the permanent shops with the most equipment and counters.

There were quite a few different things for sale inside the market--though many stalls did have meat.  Amy pays attention to meat prices and said that some of them weren't that bad--especially not for fresh meat.

Are you in the market for any whole rabbit or duck?

There were also quite a few cheese selections available between several different vendors.

 And while the outdoor farmers market wasn't officially open there was plenty of produce to be had.

Some of the area around the market was a bit rundown, but I did spot some fun murals.

 Of course I had to take pictures of the historical marker that explained about the location.  Originally the area was part of the "Northern Liberties" just outside the Cincinnati city line, and thus not subject to municipal control.

The weather was beautiful (we've had such a nicely warm winter) and there were plenty of people busting about inside and outside the market.

I couldn't resist taking pictures of several signs.

There was also a pig outside of one of the market entrance/exit doors.  I'm not sure if it was related to other pigs spotted throughout the city (usually winged flying pig statues).

Someday perhaps we'll enjoy lunch at this picnic table.

I hope that if you're ever in Cincinnati, or if you're from the area and have never visited Findlay Market that you'll pay it a visit.  I know that we certainly enjoyed our day and plan to return.

~Matt