WALKING TOUR TO THE CHRYSLER BUILDING IN NEW YORK

WALKING TOUR TO THE CHRYSLER BUILDING IN NEW YORK

The Chrysler building is since September 2001 the second tallest building in New York City after the Empire State building. The Chrysler building and the Bank of Manhattan building at 40 Wall Street were ostensibly in a race with each other. In April 1929 the announced height for 40 Wall Street was 68 stories, or 840 feet, but those plans were revised to take the building up to a height of 925 feet or 71 stories which would have made it the world's tallest.

Walter Chrysler had decided not only to top 40 wall street, but ultimately to top the empire State Building. By october 1929, the Chrysler Building had risen to a height of 68 stories, surpassing the Woolworth building by 16 feet. A building taller than 80 floors was still a dream but it became soon true. When Chrysler heard that the Empire State building was going to be a thousand feet high, he decided to ask the architect Van Alen to change his plans for the dome.

The architect changed the romanesque style dome to a stainless spire and the Chrysler remained for one year the tallest building in the world.The Chrysler building is decorated with yellow marble from Siena inside and is a wonderful example of art deco' skyscraper.