Wanamaker’s

Wanamaker's is a thirteen-story department store in central Philadelphia built in the Renaissance Revival style. A central atrium rises through the building, where a bronze eagle stands and marble columns extend upward to a decorated ceiling.

The merchant opened his first shop in 1861 and introduced new practices, including fixed prices and money-back guarantees on all goods. The current building rose between 1902 and 1910 on the site of the former Grand Depot Station.

The building's name honors its founder, a retailer from the second half of the nineteenth century who later served as postmaster general. The large bronze eagle sculpture now serves as a popular meeting point for visitors and locals on the ground floor.

The store opens Monday through Saturday for visitors who can explore floors with fashion, household items, and dining options. A daily organ concert takes place in the Grand Court around midday and runs for about half an hour.

The building houses a fully working pipe organ with over 28,000 pipes, recognized as the largest in the world. During winter, colored lights project onto the organ pipes while the bronze eagle below rotates slowly.

Location: Philadelphia

Founders: John Wanamaker

GPS coordinates: 39.95166,-75.16217

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:19