Editing Wanamaker Building (section)

== Grand Court ==

The Grand Court constitutes one of the world's great commercial interiors, a five-story atrium rising through the building's center to a skylit ceiling 150 feet above. Marble columns and bronze fixtures create setting of civic grandeur more commonly associated with public buildings than retail establishments. The court functions as gathering place, orientation point, and demonstration of the store's ambitions—a space that announced Wanamaker's as no ordinary retailer. The bronze Eagle statue, a meeting landmark since 1904, anchors the court and provides orientation for generations of Philadelphians who arranged to "meet at the Eagle."<ref name="ershkowitz">{{cite book |last=Ershkowitz |first=Herbert |title=John Wanamaker: Philadelphia Merchant |year=1999 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge}}</ref>

The court's architecture reflects John Wanamaker's belief that beautiful surroundings enhanced the shopping experience and demonstrated respect for customers. This philosophy extended throughout the store, with elaborate departments, customer services, and amenities that created shopping as cultural activity rather than mere transaction. The Grand Court's preservation within the current Macy's operation demonstrates continued recognition of its architectural and commercial value.<ref name="gallery"/>