Delve into the fascinating history of department stores

It is a scholarly and fun exhibition offered by the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, in Paris. Until April 6, 2025, “The saga of the department stores” recounts the birth and evolution of department stores, from 1850 to the present day. This story, little known to the general public, is told with finesse and raises architectural, societal, economic and artistic questions. It is summarized in three main periods: from its birth to the 1930s, its evolution until the 1980s then its contemporary phase until today.

Nearly 500 original works are brought together in this encyclopedic and educational exhibition. Far from being confined to the famous Parisian boutiques, the museum focuses on national and foreign trade. Paris, Nancy, Mexico or New York…the “cathedrals of modern commerce“, as Émile Zola called them in 1883, are flourishing all over the world and shed light on developments in society. These establishments suffered in particular the stock market crash of the 1930s and experienced a loss of steam due to political and economic instability in the end of the 1970s.

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