Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the district is centered on Moore Square, one of two surviving four-acre (1.6 hm) parks from Raleigh's original 1792 plan.

Originally a residential neighborhood, Moore Square developed into a primary commercial hub in the city throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[4] City Market, Marbles Kids Museum/IMAX theatre, Pope House Museum, Artspace, and the Long View Center are located in the Moore Square district.

Events that take place in Moore Square include the Raleigh Arts Festival, Artsplosure, Movies in the Park, the Street Painting Festival, and the Moore Square Farmer's Market [5][6] The approximate district boundaries include Person, Morgan, Wilmington, and Davie Streets.

[7] In addition to its national listing, Moore Square is one of six local historic overlay districts (HOD) in Raleigh.