Dr. Elliot Gruen is a psychiatrist from Maine who has traveled extensively, including to Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is known for its historic buildings and Fort Sumter. The city has had a public market in continuous operation since the 1790s, which was created to consolidate smaller markets. The iconic Market Hall was built in the 1840s, and additional space was added by filling in a canal in the 1880s. Today, the public market focuses more on crafts and gifts rather than fresh meat and produce, and remains a National Landmark that has survived natural disasters.

1. Dr. Elliot Gruen
The Colorful History of
Charleston’s Public
Market

2. Introduction
• Based in Lewiston, Maine, Dr. Elliot Gruen is a longtime psychiatric professional
who practices at St. Mary’s Hospital. An avid traveler, Dr. Elliot Gruen has had
the opportunity to take road trips to locations from the California coast to
Charleston, South Carolina.
Known for its antebellum mansions and historic Fort Sumter, Charleston also has
a public market that has been in continuous existence since the 1790s. The
creation of this market reflected a civic mandate following the Revolutionary
War to consolidate smaller venues, such as a fish market on Queen Street’s east
end and a beef market at the juncture of Meeting and Broad streets. During
these early decades, turkey buzzards gained the nickname “Charleston eagles”
and were under legal protection for their utility in ridding the market of waste.
The iconic Market Hall was designed by local architect Edward B. White in the
1840s, and in the 1880s a canal that led to the docks was filled in to provide
additional market space. Today, the public market stands as a National
Landmark that has withstood natural disasters including tornadoes and
hurricanes. For contemporary visitors, the emphasis is less on fresh meat and
produce, and more on items such as jewelry, crafts, and prepared food gifts.