The Bronze Eagle at the Grand Court

Pictured are (L-R) "Nightscribe", his mother, and his eldest son Jordan. 
Click the picture to see my Father with me there as well :)

Notes On the Wanamaker Eagle:
There is a lot of history concerning this eagle! It stood as the corporate symbol of the
Wanamaker chain of stores. It like the organ itself, came originally from the St Louis
World's Fair, at which it was displayed as part of the German Exhibit of Arts and Crafts.
It was made by the Armbruester Brothers in Frankfort, Germany. It was fashioned from
Durana Bronze from models provided by Berlin sculptor August Gaul. All the heavy
plates that form the inner structure, as well as the feathers and other surface features,
were wrought separately by chisel, file, and hammer!  Each individual feather on the
head and body was carefully modeled and fitted into place.  There are 1600 feathers on
the head alone, and 5000 feathers on the entire eagle.  This sculpture weighs 2500 pounds
and sits on a granite base.  It was necessary  to strengthen the floor of the Grand Court
with girder reinforcing to accommodate the eagle's weight.  There was a "cultural custom"
of rendezvous in Center City by saying "Meet me at the Eagle". 

Source of History comment: "Music In The Marketplace", with illustration, page 57, by
Ray Biswanger. This tremendous book on the complete history of the Wanamaker Organ
is available and described on the website of the "Friends of the Wanamaker Organ"!

Back to previous page
Back to my page on the Wanamaker Organ