What's Next For Philadelphia's Wanamaker Organ And Grand Court Eagle When Macy's Closes?

CBS Philadelphia

March 19, 2025

Walk inside the doors of the soon-to-be-closed Macy's department store in Center City Philadelphia and you can still hear that magical sound — the Wanamaker Organ. But not for much longer.

Many have asked, what happens to the Wanamaker Organ and the Grand Court Eagle when the store closes?

They are some of Philadelphia's most-prized possessions. The one-ton bronze bird has ministered over millions of meetings since 1911. And the organ — its breath through 28,000 pipes — roars to life twice daily from Monday to Saturday. The instrument, initially part of the 1904 World Fair in Saint Louis, has rumbled sales racks — with its soaring tones, and then, its colorful dynamics fade back to nothing more than a whisper. Recently, the upward-looking crowds have been building in size as things wind down, nearing the end.

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