The Incredible Story Of How The Famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Began

During the Thanksgiving holiday, in addition to spending time with family, one of my favorite things to do is watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's a tradition in my household as I am sure it is for many. It's certainly a New York tradition born from an idea by Macy's heir and President, Herbert Straus.

HOW THE MACY'S STORY BEGAN

Macy's didn't start as a retail department store. It was founded by a Quaker from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts named,  Rowland Hussey Macy. He opened the original store in 1851 in downtown Haverhill, MA as a dry goods store to serve workers at a nearby sawmill. By 1855 he had 4 stores but they all would eventually go under, so Macy packed up and moved to New York in 1858.

He tried the dry goods thing again and opened another store, only this time naming it after himself, R.H Macy Dry Goods. Not only did it prove to be successful, but Macy's business had expanded to include different departments and occupy several buildings and different locations. In 1877 Nathan Straus, Sr. and his brother Isidor opened a crockery shop in the basement of one of Macy's stores, that same year he died of Bright's disease. Many years later the Straus's purchased R. H. Macy & Co. outright and relocated the building to its current location in Herald Square in 1902.

By then the Straus brothers changed the name to Macy's Department Store and their business continued to flourish. To the point that started a major renovation to expand the store. Sadly, Isidor would never live to see it completed. Mr. Straus, his wife Ida, and their maid went on the maiden voyage of the Titanic and only one of them returned.

According to Titanic Belfast, right after the ship collided with the iceberg, Mrs. Straus and her maid Ellen Bird were brought to lifeboat 8 along with other women and children of elite stature. Ida reportedly got into the lifeboat but jumped out before it was lowered because she didn't want to leave her husband behind. She took off her fur jacket, gave it to Ellen, and persuaded her to leave. In 1912 the Straus's and 1,500 other passengers perished, but Ellen and all of the passengers on lifeboat 8 survived.

HERE'S SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE

Macy's ownership was passed on to Herbert's company President and his brother's co-owner Jessie Straus. In 1924 the brothers completed renovations, which made the store the largest retail in the world. That was the real inspiration behind starting the parade. To celebrate the grand opening of the new additional space, becoming the biggest store in the world, and Christmas being around the corner was a bonus. The Macy's flagship store on 34th Street in Manhattan, New York, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Herald Square is known as Macy's Herald Square.

Originally, they didn't use giant balloons, like the parade is famous for today. Straus worked out a deal with the city and borrowed animals from the Central Park Zoo! The 1924 parade was the biggest the world had ever seen and with good reason. The New York Macy's department store was also the largest in the world.

Though the iconic parade started 100 years ago in 1924, the parade was put on hold for three years in, 1942, 1943, and 1944 because of World War II (1939-1945.) Therefore, the 100th anniversary of the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Parade won't be until 2026.

IS THE ORIGINAL MACY'S DEPARTMENT STORE STILL OPEN?

Absolutely! The flagship Macy's Department Store, for which this legendary parade began, is still open at the same location 34th Street in Manhattan, New York, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Herald Square. If you are so lucky as to visit New York, make this American treasure among your first stops. It's open, 7 days a week Monday through Thursday 10 am -9 pm, Friday through Saturday 10 am-10 pm, and Sunday 11 am-9 pm.

IS THE MACY'S FLAGSHIP DEPARTMENT STORY IN NEW YORK STILL THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD?

No. It took 85 years to happen, but unfortunately, the famous department store lost that title in 2009 to a department store in Seol, South Korea called the Shinsegae. However, it remains the largest store in America 2.5 million square feet, and has 1.25 million square feet of retail space.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ends in front of this legendary store each year.  By the way, the 100-year-old building home is also home to Toys 'R' Us and Santaland, in addition to several restaurants.