This special holiday tour covers the rise and fall of Philadelphia’s great department and specialty stores. The chairman of Strawbridge and Clothier once said it was his goal to transform east Market Street into "the Champs-Élysées of Philadelphia.” But the last Strawbridge’s store, located at 8th and Market Street, closed in 2006. What happened? Wannamaker’s, the first department store in Philadelphia and one of the first in the nation, closed in 1995. What drove this store, once a technological marvel (it was the first store to have electric lighting and the first store to have a telephone) to bankruptcy? Millions once walked the streets of Center City during Philadelphia's heyday as a mercantile mecca. Retrace their steps and do some holiday shopping along the way!
Children 10 and under may attend for free and do not require a ticket.
Please call 215-546-1146 and speak with Annie, Administration and Program Manager, with any questions or concerns. Alternatively, email [email protected].
The mission of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia is to actively promote the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes. We are a membership-based, not-for-profit advocacy organization that shines a spotlight on the places that make the Philadelphia region special and gives a voice and a toolbox to those who care deeply about protecting them for the future.