Visiting New York's Skyscrapers
The Best Way To See The City’s Most Famous Attractions.
Nov 14, 2009
New York is the spiritual home of the skyscraper. The first vertical metropolis, witnessed the birth and development of the modern high-rise building. Not only is the city home to some the most spectacular and beautiful towers ever built, it is also home to the world’s best-know skyscraper, the Empire State Building. So it is no surprise that each year millions of tourists, from all over the world, come to enjoy New York’s architectural heritage.
To best experience New York’s buildings first the visit the Skyscraper Museum- to learn the history of the city’s architecture before stepping back and taking in the entire Manhattan skyline. After seeing the city as a whole make a visit to at least a couple of the most famous skyscrapers, then end your trip by climbing either the Empire state or Rockefeller Center, to see the city from above.
NY Skyscraper Museum
Situated in Lower Manhattan the Skyscraper museum is the ideal place to begin an exploration of New York City’s architectural heritage. The museum’s permanent exhibits trace the history of Manhattan’s world famous skyline focusing on the forces and individuals that have shaped its buildings. The museum also hosts a gallery dedicated to the Twin Towers and the plans for the rebuilding at Ground Zero.
New York’s Skyline
Like all tall buildings New York’s skyscrapers are best appreciated from a distance. Before visiting any individual buildings it is best to get a grasp of the entire Manhattan skyline. Although there are great views of Manhattan’s historic skyline from both Brooklyn and New Jersey by far the best panoramas of the city are to be found in the bay- either take one of the city ferries or a trip to Ellis Island to get the best photos of the city.
New York’s Five Unmissable Skyscrapers
New York has an abundance of historical high-rises including numerous former worlds’ tallest buildings, however, there are five buildings that should be included on any trip to the city.
- Chrysler Building- This Art-Deco, car inspired former worlds’ tallest building is often regarded as the most beautiful in the city.
- Empire State- The world’s most famous skyscraper was the tallest building in the world for 41 years and is currently the tallest in New York.
- Flatiron Building- Possibly New York’s most distinctive building the Flatiron takes its name from its unique shape.
- Seagram Building- Mies van der Rohe’s functionalist masterpiece influenced the design of thousands of skyscraper in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s.
- Woolworth Building- One of the city’s oldest skyscrapers, the Woolworth Building was the tallest in the world for 17 years, between 1913 and 1930.
Which Skyscraper To Climb- The Empire State vs. The “Top Of The Rock”
Two of New York’s most famous buildings offer visitors the chance to see the city from an alternative viewpoint, above. Both the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center, promoted as the “Top of the Rock”, charge tourists to visit their observation decks. Both towers offer panoramic views across the historic Manhattan’s skyline and cost around $20. Although the Empire State has the more famous observation deck, the “Top of the Rock” may be actually offer a better experience, as the queues are significantly shorter and you get a perfect view of the Empire State Building.
While in New York it is hard not to by overwhelmed by the wealth of architecture on show. This short guide should help organize a trip to New York to experience and understand some of America's finest and tallest skyscrapers.
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