Chrysler Building United States

Legendary

Take in the site of this Art Deco skyscraper that was the world's tallest building in 1930.

Photo by Ahmet Asar

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In 1930, workers hid a giant metal spire inside the Chrysler Building's roof. They raised it into place in about 90 minutes, and New York City suddenly had the tallest building in the world.

The trick was aimed at a rival tower across town called 40 Wall Street. Its architect, Craig Severance, used to be business partners with Chrysler's architect, William Van Alen.

The two men raced each other to build higher. When 40 Wall Street announced it would reach 927 feet, Van Alen kept his secret spire quiet until the very last moment.

The spire pushed the Chrysler Building to 1,046 feet. That made it the first building ever to pass 1,000 feet, and it beat the Eiffel Tower too.

The victory didn't last. The Empire State Building opened 11 months later and stood more than 400 feet taller.

Walter Chrysler paid for the building himself, using money from his car company. He wanted it as an investment for his children, not as an office for Chrysler cars.

The building's style is Art Deco, a design popular in the 1920s and 1930s that used bold shapes, clean lines, and shiny metal. The Chrysler Building is often called the finest Art Deco building ever made.

Car parts inspired much of the decoration. Steel eagles stick out from the corners, based on the hood ornaments of Chrysler cars, and a band of hubcap shapes wraps around the tower.

The building opened on May 27, 1930, with 77 floors. It still stands at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue today.

Step into the lobby, which is free to enter and covered in red marble from Morocco. Look up at the huge painted ceiling showing airplanes, ships, and the building itself. Head outside and look up at the stainless steel crown, with its rows of triangle windows that shine in the sun.