Chicago Riverwalk [Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame - by Various Artists]

The Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame

Bust sculptures of eight outstanding American merchants

by Minna Harkavy, Milton Horn, Lewis Iselin, Henry Rox, Charles Umlauf

Installed: 1953

Description: Bronzes, four-times life-size (each)

Commissioned by The Merchandise Mart

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Location: The Merchandise Mart main entrance at the Chicago River

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Eight heroic-sized busts of men, whose names or companies are well-known to American consumers, stand in tribute to this country’s remarkable system of merchandising. Mounted on tall pillars, the portrait-heads of these innovative Americans are positioned like sentries facing the entrance of The Merchandise Mart, the world’s largest wholesale buying center. To immortalize outstanding American merchants", Joseph Kennedy in 1953 commissioned eight bronze busts, four times life size, which would come to be known as the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame.

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Robert Elkington Wood - By Minna Harkavy

Robert Elkington Wood [1879-1969]

was a U.S. Army Brigadier General and businessman best known as president and board chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company.

Frank Winfield Woolworth - By Milton Horn

Frank Winfield Woolworth [1852-1919]..

He was the founder of F.W. Woolworth Company [now Foot Locker]. He pioneered the now-common practices of buying merchandise direct from manufacturers and fixing prices on items, rather than haggling..

Julius Rosenwald - by Charles Umlauf

Julius Rosenwald [1862-1932]..

President and chairman of the Sears, Roebuck and Company, and for the Rosenwald Fund which donated millions to support the education of African American children in the rural South. He was also the principal founder and backer for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, to which he gave more than $5 million and served as President from 1927 to 1932.

Marshall Field  - By Lewis Iselin

Marshall Field [1834-1906]..

was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores..

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John Wanamaker - By Lewis Iselin

-John Wanamaker [1838-1922]..

The father of modern advertising, founder of John Wanamaker Incorporated..

Aaron Montgomery Ward - By Milton Horn

Aaron Montgomery Ward [1844-1913]..

was an American businessman, founder of Montgomary Ward & Company, notable for the invention of mail order..

George Huntington Hartford - By Charles Umlauf

George Huntington Hartford [1833-1917]..

founded The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in 1859 ..

Edward Albert Filene - By Henry Rox

Edward Albert Filene [1860-1937]..
Preseident of William Feline & Sons. He is best known for building the Filene's department store chain and for his decisive role in pioneering credit unions across the United States.