Wanamaker Building

Address: 100 E Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Neighborhood: Center City

Website: https://www.visitmacysusa.com/philadelphia

Description: Designed by Daniel H. Burnham and built in three stages between 1902 and 1910, this 12-story masonry-clad, steel-frame structure housed one of America’s great retail firms. Although John Wanamaker did not found the modern department store, his far-reaching innovations, especially in advertising, were essential contributions to its evolution. Built on the site of his earlier “Grand Depot,” this temple to retailing (it contains more than 45 acres of floor space) is known for its grand interior court, its huge pipe organ (largest in the world when it was installed in 1911), and its nine-foot bronze eagle with 5,000 feathers.

Resources for Researchers

• History
  • https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wanamaker-building

Information for Visitors

• Check Macy’s Philadephia website
  • https://www.visitmacysusa.com/philadelphia

Subthemes:

• First in the nation – Philadelphia’s “firsts”
• Architecture and design – iconic, famous, or representative
• Arts through the ages – music, art, theater

Link to NHL Nomination Form:

• Nomination number: 78002459
• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GJ9c61F4O0jd4NgscDKeN6bpjb8WT_jU