Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by Swedish immigrant John W. Nordstrom, who used the money he made in the Alaska gold rush to start the company. Over a century later, the fourth generation of ...

Kevin Carter/Getty Images Nordstrom was founded as shoe store Wallin & Nordstrom in 1901 by family patriarch John W. Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant who started the company with money acquired by ...