Lower Market Street Historic District-Amendment (original) (raw)

1985, National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

The Lower Market Street Historic District was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places as representing three centuries of Wilmington's residential and commercial architecture. Ranging from the 18th to the early 20th century, the architectural styles served to document the growth and change which occurred in the Market Street area during this period. The Lower Market Street Historic District Amendment is eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A because it was the commercial center of the City of Wilmington during the Industrialization (1830-1880) and the Urban Growth (1880-1930) phases of development. The buildings that contribute to the amendment are significant under Criterion C, for including a wide range of 19th century styles such as Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, and Queen Anne. However, the majority of the buildings in the district represent examples of mid to late 19th century revival styles. Very few of the buildings are "pure" styles, and most represent a crossbreed of styles, which is typical of the Victorian architectural philosophy that combined different stylistic elements to create a unique effect.