Attraction 6 / 76
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Location
405 Lexington Av.
Subway
42nd Grand Central (4,5,6)
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At
the beginning of the 20th century, the race for the
tallest building in the world started and the Chrysler
Building was the first building to top the then tallest structure, the Eiffel
Tower in Paris.

Chrysler Building
New York would keep the tallest building in the world until 1974, when the Sears Tower was built in Chicago.
A race for the tallest building
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.
Just one week after the Bank of Manhattan

Art Deco Entrance
Art Deco
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.
Popularity
The spire
But ever since its construction the popularity of the building has grown constantly, both among New Yorkers and architecture critics. It is now regarded as one of America's greatest buildings, and the Chrysler Building is often on the cover of architectural books and magazines.
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- Next: Grand Central Terminal
- Next Top Attraction: Rockefeller Center [New York City Top Attractions]
- Next Skyscraper: Citigroup Center [New York City Skyscrapers]



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