Public fresh-food markets were included in L'Enfant's original plans for the City of Washington. Capitol Hill has had a farmers' market from almost the inception of the City of Washington. The Eastern Market, completed in 1873, was designed by Adolph Cluss, a prominent local architect who designed the Franklin and Sumner Schools as well as many other post-Civil War buildings in the District of Columbia. Today, Eastern Market is one of the few public markets left in Washington, DC, and the only one retaining its original public market function.

As Capitol Hill's population spread in the early 20th Century, a new addition consisting of the Center and North Halls was added. Eastern Market was unofficially recognized as the "town center" of Capitol Hill. Both the Eastern Market building and its interior are designated National Historic Landmarks. The market had been in continuous operation since 1873!

Today, you can find a large variety of fresh local fruits and vegetables, flowers, delicatessen, meat, cheese, poultry, bakery and dairy products. There is also the Market Lunch - renowned for its crab cakes and blueberry pancakes.