New York would keep the tallest building in the world until 1974, when the
Sears Tower was built in
Chicago.
For Walter P. Chrysler, from the car manufacturer, building
the tallest building in the world was a status symbol.
The Chrysler building was in a race with the Bank
of Manhattan (now
40 Wall Street) for obtaining the title of tallest
building in the world. It looked like the Bank of Manhattan
would win the race, with an expected height of 282 meter (927ft)
against around 230 meter for the Chrysler building.
But the spire of the Chrysler building
was constructed in secret inside the tower.
Just one week after the Bank of Manhattan had reached
its top, the spire of the Chrysler building was put
in place,

making it 318 meter (1045ft) high, thus beating the
Bank of Manhattan as the tallest building in the world.
It would not keep this title for long: one year later
the
Empire State Building
was erected.
The Chrysler building is one of the last skyscrapers
in the Art Deco style. The gargoyles depict Chrysler
car ornaments and the spire is modeled on a radiator
grille. Since it was restored in 1996 it glitters
again like it must have in the 1930s.