Siding from the Detroit Central Market, 1860

The Detroit Central Market's vegetable shed sheltered vendors and customers from 1861 to 1894. The structure was then removed to Belle Isle and was slated for demolition in 2003 when The Henry Ford acquired it. The reconstructed building--which opened in Greenfield Village in 2022--includes several original cast-iron columns and ornamental woodwork, siding, and other details that convey the Swiss-Chalet aesthetic of the original design.

Open-air public markets consolidated sales of perishable fruits and vegetables for easy access by urban consumers. This vegetable shed at Detroit's Central Market, constructed in 1860 with 48 cast-iron columns and ornate timber framing, provided shelter to dozens of market gardeners, florists, and other vendors. It was located on Michigan Grand Avenue between Bates and Randolph Streets. City officials closed the market and dismantled it in 1894.