September in many parts of the world means fall/autumn which, in turn, often means golden leaves. Jude’s also gone with gold for her Life in Colour challenge, so we’ll take a break from our Wyoming trip and concentrate on that. Arizona doesn’t do autumn in the same way as much of the country, but I think I can go archive diving and come up with some gold. Philadelphia does do gold as you can see from this magnificent organ, the largest operational pipe organ in the world, unexpectedly found in Macy’s Department store. Read more about its fascinating and lengthy history by clicking on the highlighted link below as well as listen to it being played, which happens twice a day every day of the week except Sunday and more often during the Christmas season.
In its present configuration, the Wanamaker Organ has 28,482 pipes in 461 ranks.[2] The organ console consists of six manuals with an array of stops and controls that command the organ. The organ’s String Division forms the largest single organ chamber in the world. The instrument features eighty-eight ranks of string pipes built by the W.W. Kimball Company of Chicago.[2] The organ is famed for its orchestra-like sound, coming from pipes that are voiced softer than usual, allowing an unusually rich build-up because of the massing of pipe-tone families. The artistic obligation entailed by the creation of this instrument has always been honored, with two curators employed in its constant and scrupulous care. The organ, with its regular program of concerts and recitals, was maintained by Wanamaker’s throughout the chain’s history, even as the company’s financial fortunes waxed and waned. This level of dedication was maintained when corporate parentage shifted from the Wanamaker family to Carter-Hawley-Hale Stores to Woodward & Lothrop to Lord & Taylor to Macy’s. “Pipe Organs”

Well, that’s a good bit of gold from your archive dive!
Glad you enjoyed it, Sue. I managed to come up with a few more for the next few weeks’ posts. 🙂
I’ve just posted, and know I have more in the archive!
Now, that’s GOLD!
Yes it is and a lot of it. 🙂
That’s an impressive organ.
That it is, Dan. Must be so much fun to hear Christmas music on it.
Had no idea this existed – Thank you!
An experience playing a pipe organ for a year or so greatly inspired me…though it was in NO way comparable to this one!
For those who want to hear the organ, check out the quintessential organ program, Pipe Dreams here: https://www.pipedreams.org/profile/philadelphia-grand-court-wanamaker
Glad you enjoyed it. Besides being cool to see and hear, it’s free! (Unless you buy something at Macy’s.) 🙂
That’s a lotta gold. Pipe organs sound fascinating to me. Not seeing much gold out here in CO, but a few aspen leaves are turning now 😀
I forgot you’re in CO. I hope you’re having a marvelous time. I do love aspen trees but it’s still a bit early for leaves to change colors even high up.
Were you in Philadelphia recently? We’ve been a few times, but I think there are many interesting things to see and explore in and around Philly
I haven’t been there since Covid started as I’d have to fly now that we live in Arizona. There’s so much to see and lots of history, which I love. One thing our daughter and I did once was to take one of the bus rides (Big Bus or something like that) where you ride all around the city with a narrator pointing out things of interest. It was a blast and you could get on and off at will.
Yes – I’m familiar with those bus rides
That is one very big golden organ.
It is but oddly enough it doesn’t seem enormous in the store as it’s up high and the store is quite large with a high ceiling.
California doesn’t do autumns either. That’s some organ!
It really is. You can imagine how big the store is because it doesn’t dominate the place!
What a spectacular organ! I’d like to have a go on it. 😅
I don’t play the organ, but I’d love to hear you do it. 🙂
I’ve never played one that size. I’m much better on the piano. 😅
Wow, quite impressive!
It’s amazing.
I think it will be a long time before we see golden leaves around here too, so I do appreciate this departure and more creative interpretation of the theme! What a cool find, with such a rich history.
Not nearly as many leaves here as in the Midwest! Not sure how many you have.
impressive pipes
I agree!
Sssoooo …. beautiful. I love the sound of the pipe organ.
My first experience was at my elementary school church.
It’s impressive. Great photograph, Janet.
LOL … I just posted about Macy’s on your other photo.
Stay Safe 😷 Isadora 😎
I’m going through comments backwards, so I’ll see that one next. 🙂 It used to be that every church had a pipe organ but not these days. This one is quite something, though.
I loved the pipe organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, N. Y. The sound was mesmerizing. It’s a wonderful memory for me. 😊
WOWZA! I’d love to shop and listen to it being played. It’s beautiful!
We were quite impressed!
Wow, chili with cinnamon – I would have to get used to that:) That gold colored organ is over the top!
Emille
That’s not for me either. 😉
Egads! Or should I say Egoldens!
They don’t make them like this any more!
That’s for sure and they don’t make buildings like the Wanamaker/Macy’s building anymore either.
I took a smoothie after reading this post. 🤭😍🔥 Thankyou
Thanks for visiting and commenting, even though I’m not quite sure why you’d take a smoothie. 🙂
janet