National Historic Landmark

Wanamaker, John, Store

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
June 1, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78002459

About this property

The John Wanamaker Store is a department store building and National Historic Landmark on Market Street in the Center City district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was designed by Daniel Burnham for John Wanamaker, and opened in 1911; it replaced the first store on the grounds founded in 1876. It was the flagship store of the Wanamaker's department store chain, was acquired by The May Department Stores Company in 1994, and converted to the May-owned Hecht's, Strawbridge's, and Lord & Taylor between 1995 and 2006. May itself was acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2005, and converted to the Federated-owned Macy's in 2006. Macy's closed the store without replacement in 2025. It contains the Wanamaker Organ, the largest functional organ in the world.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95126, -75.16227

Categories

COMMERCEPERFORMING ARTS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Land Title Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Broad Street Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Philadelphia City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
American Baptist Publication Society
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.1 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.6 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wanamaker, John, Store listed on the National Register?

Wanamaker, John, Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 1, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Wanamaker, John, Store?

Wanamaker, John, Store is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Wanamaker, John, Store a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Wanamaker, John, Store has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Wanamaker, John, Store?

The period of significance for Wanamaker, John, Store is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Wanamaker, John, Store?

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