Everything to know about the Chrysler Building
The history of this landmark
Located in the Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, in the city of New York, the Chrysler Building remains one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the Big Apple. Built in record time between 1928 and 1930, it held the title of the world's tallest habitable structure at 319 meters before the Empire State Building was completed. Both graceful and whimsical, it is a favorite among New Yorkers and a fixture of American pop culture.
Walter P. Chrysler, founder of the automotive company, financed the project to cement his firm's success and secure a legacy for his family. After the family sold the building in the 1950s to real estate moguls and later insurance firms, the Chrysler Building is currently owned by sovereign wealth funds from the United Arab Emirates.
What you can see
Although the building is not open for public tours because it serves as office space, you can quietly step inside during the work week to see the famous lobby and its elevators finished in marble, steel, and exotic woods. The interior is worth a quick look.
A masterpiece of Art Deco design, the construction of its 77 floors required over 20,000 tons of steel, an equal weight in rivets, and nearly 4 million bricks. Its terraced spire with seven arches is brilliantly illuminated at night. Take a moment to admire the facade and the stainless steel corner ornaments. At the 24th floor, you will see pineapples, at the 31st floor eagle wings, a nod to the radiator caps used on Chrysler vehicles of that era, and at the 61st floor, eight eagles. The entrance, clad in black marble from Georgia, features murals by Edward Trumbull. The lobby, finished in red Moroccan marble, features a painted ceiling depicting major technological advancements in the field of transportation.
The roof of the Chrysler Building, on the island of Manhattan in New York, stands out from any viewpoint in the city. Just like the Empire State Building, its crystal-shaped roof is very recognizable. This elegant building was the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation for a long time before shops moved into the ground floor. Good to know: you cannot climb up the spire of the Chrysler Building, you can only go into the lobby.