[1] Located on the Southwest Waterfront of Washington, D.C., in the shadow of Interstate 395, the Maine Avenue Fish Market stands as a cultural relic popular with locals and little known the tourists who flock to the monuments and museums just five blocks north.

In 1961, refrigerated trucks became more efficient to bring the catch from the Eastern Shore and the "buy boats" were permanently docked and later replaced by today's steel barges.

The wharf moved just north to where 11th Street SW lands on the river with rents paid annually in February.

A plan for the New Market called for a main building to be built along Water Street SW with wings extending along the wharves.

[14] However, the funds were not approved in 1913 in the District appropriation bill in spite of all the dealers being ready for a new building and having made application for the new quarters.

[15] Finally, on July 21, 1914, the District appropriation bill created the post of Market master and wharfinger and approved $50,000 to rebuild the wharves and prepare plans.

[17] The building was designed by Municipal Architect Snowden Ashford and built at a cost of $150,000 with an additional $50,000 spent on the three concrete wharves.

[22] The two-story brick Municipal Fish Market was scheduled to be razed and the occupants told to leave by November 1, 1959.

[citation needed] By 2009, plans were underway to once again redevelop Maine Avenue and remove the frontage road of Water Street, where the waterfront buildings and wharf were located.

[32][33] Some support structures on Water Street, including the sole remaining land-based eatery, were scheduled to be razed ”to keep the Fish Market in safe and operable condition until the redevelopment occurs”, said an official with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

[34] A website associated with the developer PN Hoffman said, "Washington’s historic Fish Market will be preserved and renovated and the maritime heritage of the site promoted.

"[35] District Wharf complex opened with Phase I in October 2017, including residential space, hotels, live music venues, shops and restaurants, many overlooking the redesigned wharves and marina.

[37] On November 4, 2021, two of the three barges operated by Captain White, one of the largest seafood vendors at the Market, were "detached from the pier and towed by boat down the Potomac River," Washingtonian magazine reported.