National Historic Landmark

Chrysler Building

New York, New York County, New York
Listed
December 8, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76001237

About this property

The Chrysler Building is a 1,046-foot-tall (319 m), Art Deco skyscraper in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States. Located at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue, it is the tallest steel-framed brick building in the world. It was both the world's first supertall skyscraper and the world's tallest building for 11 months after its completion in 1930. As of 2019, the Chrysler is the 13th-tallest building in the city, tied with The New York Times Building. Originally a project of real estate developer and former New York State Senator William H. Reynolds, the building was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, the head of the Chrysler Corporation. The construction of the Chrysler Building, an early skyscraper, was characterized by a competition with 40 Wall Street and the Empire State Building to become the world's tallest building. The Chrysler Building was designed and funded by Walter Chrysler personally as a real estate investment for his children, but it was not intended as the Chrysler Corporation's headquarters (which was located in Detroit at the Highland Park Chrysler Plant from 1934 to 1996). An annex was completed in 1952, and the building was sold by the Chrysler family the next year, with numerous subsequent owners. When the Chrysler Building opened, there were mixed reviews of the building's design, some calling it inane and unoriginal, others hailing it as modernist and iconic. Reviewers in the late 20th and early 21st centuries regarded the building as a paragon of the Art Deco architectural style. In 2007, it was ranked ninth on the American Institute of Architects' list of America's Favorite Architecture. The facade and interior became New York City designated landmarks in 1978, and the structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Location

405 Lexington Ave.
New York, New York County, New York
40.75163, -73.97520

Categories

COMMERCEARTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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House at 146 East 38th St.
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Nearby Battles

Battle of Kip's Bay
1776Revolutionary War
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chrysler Building listed on the National Register?

Chrysler Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Chrysler Building?

Chrysler Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Chrysler Building a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Chrysler Building has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Chrysler Building?

The period of significance for Chrysler Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Chrysler Building?

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