In 1889, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad decided to build a new headquarters and train station at 12th & Market St. At the time, the company had 2000 miles of railroad track terminating at 4 different terminals within the city. This new station would consolidate all the lines into one central train station.
There were two existing markets (Butchers’ & Farmers’ and Franklin Markets) at the proposed site and the railroad agreed to incorporate the existing vendors into a new ground floor market. This required the trainshed to be raised, as well as all the tracks leading to the station.
The 8 story headhouse on Market St. was designed in 1891 by Francis H. Kimball in the Italian Renaissance style and fronted the passenger station and served as company headquarters. The train shed was designed by Wilson Brothers & Company. Construction began in 1891, and the station opened on January 29, 1893. At the time, the trainshed was one of the largest single-span arched-roof structures in the world and is the only remaining structure of it's type in the US.
The Reading Terminal Market opened for business on February 22, 1893. By 1913 the Market was booming, with 250 food dealers and 100 farmers occupying its stalls. A popular feature was a free market basket service on suburban trains. Under the system, the homeowner could arrange for a grocery order to be filled in the Market and the basket placed upon a train bound for their town and held at the station until it was picked it up.
Reading Terminal served the company's intercity and regional rail lines, with lines going to Philadelphia suburbs and cities such as Scranton, Reading, Buffalo and Jersey City. But the company made most of it's money hauling coal from central PA to Philadelphia; an enterprise that severely declined after WWII. Ultimately the Reading declared bankruptcy on November 23, 1971. In 1976, Conrail took over the freight operations of the Reading and the railroad's regional rail service was incorporated into SEPTA.
In the late 1970's SEPTA began construction of the Center City Commuter Connection, an underground rail tunnel to connect the former Reading Railroad commuter lines at Reading Terminal with the former Pennsylvania Railroad commuter lines at Suburban Station. A new underground station at Market East (now called Jefferson station) replaced the elevated station at Reading Terminal. Reading Terminal handled its last train on November 6, 1984.
When the Reading Terminal ceased operating as a train station, it severely impacted foot traffic at the Market. Adding to that, new management at the market raised rents and allowed the market to became rundown, losing merchants and customers. There was even talk of tearing down the entire complex. A new, downtown convention center was proposed in the 1980's and it was decided that the former train shed be an integral part of the project. The PA Convention Center opened in 1993 and the market refurbished, drawing in new vendors and new customers. Presently, the Market still occupies the ground floor and basement levels of the Reading Terminal's former train shed.
Reading Terminal was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The Market is one of the most visited places in the city, both by residents and visitors.
Under construction Train shed, 1892
1891 Litho 1892 Reading Terminal Market vendor, 1916
1960's Train shed 1920's Shed, today