Abstract
For more than a century, one of the quintessential experiences of visiting Pittsburgh or any major American city was a trip to a downtown department store. With floor after floor of goods that often could not be found anywhere else, a visit to a store such as Kaufmann's, Horne's, Gimbels, or Boggs & Buhl was a true family event. In the early days, store visits also provided a glimpse of technology that many people could not afford at home, such as electric lights when gas lights were still common. Many people rode their fi rst elevator or escalator and ate at their first restaurant there. By the 1920s, the "Big Three"—Kaufmann's, Horne's, and Gimbels—provided jobs for thousands and competed fiercely to attract customers during the crucial holiday shopping season. A visit to their increasingly elaborate Christmas windows and toyland displays became a beloved tradition shared by generations of Pittsburghers.
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