Description

While Paris was the birthplace of the modern department store (Le Bon Marche, 1852), the format was quickly emulated by American entrepreneurs. Stores resembling palaces cropped up across the our country. Largely the work of two women and a number of men, each designed stores to try to outdo one another, offering unique departments or services to draw buyers in. From luxurious interiors, elevators, and escalators, to book signing events and bridal registries, these emporiums stocked more than one could ever imagine. Many of these original creators started out as immigrant peddlers but eventually built family dynasties that ran these palaces for generations. Join us for a historical overview of Macy’s, Gimbel’s, Neiman-Marcus, Filene’s, Marshall Field’s, and Wanamaker’s.