The Wanamaker Organ was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair before being purchased by John Wanamaker.
The bronze eagle statue in the Grand Court was originally commissioned for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
The building was constructed on the site of the former Pennsylvania Railroad terminal.
The organ console requires a performer to manage six manuals and thousands of stops to operate the 28,482 pipes.
At the time of its opening, the store was the largest department store in the world under one roof.
The interior Grand Court was inspired by the design of Italian palazzos.
The Wanamaker Building is a historic 12-story commercial structure occupying an entire city block, originally built to house the flagship Wanamaker's department store. Designed by Daniel Burnham and completed in 1910, the building is renowned for its massive Grand Court, which serves as a central light well and atrium. The structure houses the Wanamaker Organ, the world's largest fully functional pipe organ with over 28,000 pipes. The building's exterior features a mix of Florentine and Renaissance revival architecture with granite cladding. Today, the facility serves as a mixed-use office complex while maintaining its historic designation. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The atrium is open to the public during business hours, allowing visitors to view the organ and the 'Eagle' bronze statue. The building remains a key example of the 'department store palace' architectural style of the early 20th century.
From the ground floor looking up at the Grand Court's high ceilings or directly in front of the bronze eagle.
Enter through the main entrance on East Penn Square to access the Grand Court directly.
Visit during the holiday season to experience the dedicated light shows and the restored grand Christmas displays.
Look for the large bronze eagle in the atrium, which served as the traditional meeting point for Philadelphians for decades.
Do not attempt to access restricted office floors or private elevators; stick to the public Grand Court area.
The building is generally closed to the public on weekends, though the lobby may have limited access during specific holiday events.
Business casual attire; maintain a quiet volume within the atrium as it functions as a primary lobby for corporate offices.
