JeffGWent back to visit Macys Philadelphia, also known as John Wanamaker's, also kinda known as "Prince and Company" lol. Macys is closing in a few weeks. (Thread) #philadelphia #Wanamakers
I've been here many times before, but this time I brought along a guide book. A, uhh, well, 99 year old guide book from 1926. Does it still apply? #philadelphia #Wanamakers
Walking into the atrium, well, so far so good! Facade is still there (recently restored). No more cool lights on the sales floor though. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
The book says to meet someone at the Eagle. I didnt have anyone to meet today but yes, 99 years later the Eagle is still gracing the atrium. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
The book mentions some plaques and such, including this spot where President Taft dedicated the building just 15 years ago in 1911. Yup, still there! #philadelphia #Wanamakers
Ok so now things get tough; the book describes this area but the store has certainly changed a bit in 99 years? Good luck finding this! #philadelphia #Wanamakers
...Or has it? Could the door in the foreground be the Market Street entrance? (Yes theres tons of "drywall modifications" to the mezzanine. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
The book describes this spot on the third floor, and yes I went to where I thought it might be, but the drywall mods covered the windows. That said, this spot looks really close, and makes me wonder if it was really the second floor. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
Back out to the atrium, whats this great organ? Geeze thats a lot of pipes. Oh wait, none of those pipes are real, are they? #philadelphia #Wanamakers
Lets take a closer look...nope, theyre not real organ pipes, just a facade. Whats the deal with that, and HOW DID I GET INSIDE THE FACADE?? #philadelphia #Wanamakers #wanamakerorgan #dotheorgantourwhileyoucan
The actual organ is over 28000 pipes and takes up several rooms, including 2 stories behind the facade (notice the giant square grates), then part of the 4th floor, and elsewhere. Would you keep walking if you heard this? (Ps book still accurate, organ still there.) #philadelphia #Wanamakers #wanamakerorgan
Back on the first floor, we have rows of counters. While jewelry have been moved to the atrium and I guess the original counters are gone.... #philadelphia #Wanamakers
That space seems to still be there as the perfume department. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
So thats a thread. This building is huge and while the book mentions a lot more like the Crystal Tea Room, Greek Hall, and Egyptian Halls, all of which STILL exist, much of them are off limits except for events like visiting the Dickens village display during the holidays. Heres Greek fall from December. #philadelphia #Wanamakers
To answer my earlier question, you can still book tours for the Wanamaker organ, the (2nd) largest instrument on the planet (first fully operational). Thats where you can get the view from behind the facade, and I was happy I was able to join the tour today. https://wanamakerorgan.com/organ-tours/
And Id still support them and keep "Baby" running! (Crank it up!) https://wanamakerorgan.com #philadelphia #wanamakerorgan #Wanamakers
lpbkdotnet@orion3311 what a fantastic thread!
It’s so much fun trying to hunt down old photo locations like that 😀