Opposite the foot of the RISD complex and fronting the Providence River, where sailing ships could tie up close by, is this modest adaptation of Peter Harrison's slightly earlier Brick Market in Newport (
NE8). The Market House is one of several architectural monuments that signaled the ascendancy of Providence as a commercial center. Originally a two-story building with an open arcade on the first story, it was used by vendors below and town officials above. A third story, added in 1797, housed the state's first Masonic hall. This later served as city hall until the completion of the present Providence City Hall (
PR4) and then as the Board of Trade. The interior has been completely reworked several times since the 1930s for various RISD programs. Market Square demarcates South from North Main Street.