Each Christmas of my youth, my parents took me to the time-honored Philadelphia tradition of the Christmas Lights Show at Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia’s first commerce district on Market Street in Center City. Even at my young age — I remember being intimidated by the towering Wanamaker Eagle — both striking fear into my heart and intrigue into my head that it was possible that John Wanamaker was a football fan?
On Thursday, Macy’s announced that in the Spring of 2025 — the Macy’s currently in the Wanamaker Building — will be one of many Macy’s Department Stores that is closing.
The history of Wanamaker’s begins with the entrepreneurial drive of one of it’s very own from Gray’s Ferry in South Philadelphia. It was less than a month prior to America was on the precipice of entanglement in the American Civil War in 1861 when John Wanamaker opened his first shopping experience — Wanamaker & Brown, Oak Hall — which was a joint-venture between he and his brother-in-law at sixth and Market Street.
The original construction of Oak Hall would have included the incorporation of at least one of the original walls of the President’s House at 6th and Market — which was once occupied by George Washington during his presidency. By 1875, he was so successful that Wanamaker purchased the old Pennsylvania Railroad Depot and in 1876 opened “The Grand Depot” at 13th and Market streets.
In 1910, he would complete his largest venture — when architect Daniel H. Burnham’s Florentine Style Granite Walls became the twelve-story building became the department store that we know today and would be part of a dedication by President Howard Taft one year later in 1911. The gorgeous, new department store took two important things from the St. Louis World’s Fair. The 28,750 pipes of the Wanamaker Organ, constructed in the Grand Court and what is still the largest pipe organ in the world to this day and the iconic bronze Wanamaker Eagle. In later years, both Lord & Taylor and Macy’s occupied the Wanamaker Building.
Beginning in 1955 — Philadelphians and people from all over the country have reveled at fountains illuminated by lights, a retelling of Charles Dicken’s, and a musical accompaniment of the 28,750 pipes of the Wanamaker Organ. When Wanamaker’s became Macy’s in 2006, the Holiday celebration
I still remember my Dad first showing me the grandeur and incredible reverberating sound of that Wanamaker organ, a walk through the Dicken’s Village, meeting my Mom for lunch in the Crystal Team Room. The images of that impressive organ, Crystal Tea Room, and bronze eagle as a boy will never leave my mind. They are some of the most important memories of mine and of one of America’s first department stores right here in Philadelphia.
Michael Thomas Leibrandt is member of the York Road Historical Society and lives and works in Abington Township.
