12 Oldest Skyscrapers That Changed City Skylines Forever
This article examines twelve groundbreaking skyscrapers from the late 19th century that transformed city skylines. The Temple Court Building, constructed in 1883 in New York by Benjamin Silliman Jr. and James M. Farnsworth, features a nine-story atrium and will be recognized as an interior landmark in 2024. The Hotel Chelsea, designed by Philip Hubert in 1884, was home to notable figures such as Mark Twain and Andy Warhol. James Edward Ware's Osborne Apartments, built in 1885, demonstrated that affluent residents were ready for high-rise living. Alfred B. Mullett's Sun Building in Washington, DC, completed in 1887, showcased corporate branding. The Rookery Building in Chicago, designed by Burnham and Root in 1888, had its light court redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. Other significant structures include the Wilder Building (1888), APA Building (1889), New York Times Building (1889), Old Chronicle Building (1889), Manhattan Building (1891), Ames Building (1893), and Witte Huis (1898).
Key facts
- Temple Court Building completed 1883, designed by Benjamin Silliman Jr. and James M. Farnsworth.
- Hotel Chelsea completed 1884, designed by Philip Hubert, once tallest in New York.
- Osborne Apartments completed 1885, designed by James Edward Ware, proved wealthy would live in high-rises.
- Sun Building completed 1887, designed by Alfred B. Mullett, early corporate branding.
- Rookery Building completed 1888, by Burnham and Root, grillage foundation, light court redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905.
- Wilder Building completed 1888, oldest surviving mail chute installed by James Goold Cutler.
- APA Building completed 1889, Southern Hemisphere's first skyscraper, demolished 1980.
- New York Times Building at 41 Park Row completed 1889, designed by George B. Post, built around newspaper operations.
- Old Chronicle Building completed 1889, by Burnham and Root, San Francisco's first skyscraper, survived 1906 earthquake.
- Manhattan Building completed 1891, by William Le Baron Jenney, oldest surviving skyscraper with skeletal steel frame.
- Ames Building completed 1893, by Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge, second-tallest masonry load-bearing wall structure.
- Witte Huis completed 1898, by Willem Molenbroek, Europe's first skyscraper, survived 1940 Rotterdam Blitz.
Entities
Artists
- Benjamin Silliman Jr.
- James M. Farnsworth
- Philip Hubert
- James Edward Ware
- Alfred B. Mullett
- Daniel Burnham
- John Wellborn Root
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- James Goold Cutler
- George B. Post
- William Le Baron Jenney
- Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge
- Willem Molenbroek
- Mark Twain
- Arthur C. Clarke
- Jack Kerouac
- Bob Dylan
- Jimi Hendrix
- Janis Joplin
- Patti Smith
- Andy Warhol
- Dylan Thomas
- Sid Vicious
- Nancy Spungen
- Thomas Osborne
- M. H. de Young
- Frederick Lothrop Ames
- Gerrit van der Schuyt
- Jan-Hendrik van der Schuyt
- Matthew Davies
- John Beswicke
- B. Stanley Simmons
- Willis Polk
- Woodrow Wilson
- J. Edgar Hoover
Institutions
- New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
- The Beekman Hotel and Residences
- Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects
- National Register of Historic Places
- The Baltimore Sun
- American Bank
- Interstate Commerce Commission
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Central Safety Deposit Company
- Pace University
- San Francisco Chronicle
- Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences
- San Francisco Call
- Suffolk University
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Australian Property and Investment Company
- Oakden, Addison & Kemp
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Manhattan
- Financial District
- 5 Beekman Street
- 222 West 23rd Street
- 205 West 57th Street
- Carnegie Hall
- Central Park
- Billionaires' Row
- Washington, DC
- 1317 F Street NW
- Chicago
- Illinois
- LaSalle and Adams Streets
- Rochester
- New York
- Four Corners
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Elizabeth Street
- Flinders Lane
- San Francisco
- California
- 690 Market Street
- Boston
- Massachusetts
- 1 Court Street
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands