All The Practical Information About Visiting The Chrysler Building
New York is a city renowned for housing some of the most famous buildings in the world such as the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center, the Flatiron Building, and of course the Chrysler Building. This magnificent Art Deco-style skyscraper, nearly 320 meters high, was once the tallest skyscraper in New York.
Today, it remains one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, standing proudly in midtown Manhattan with its tall spire pointing skyward. It’s very simple, you can’t miss it if you leave visit New York in 5 days !
The History Of The Chrysler Building
It was in 1927 that William H. Reynolds asked William Van Alen to build the Chrysler Building, which was not yet to be called that at that time.
Indeed, it was not until the following year that Walter Chrysler, president of the Chrysler automobile brand, took the reins of the project and decided to expand the building to make it the tallest skyscraper in New York.
At the time, competition was fierce and the building constructed at 40 Wall Street was even supposed to exceed the Chrysler Building. It was only thanks to the addition of its iconic spire almost 60 meters high that the Chrysler Building managed to obtain its record when it opened on May 27, 1930, rising to 319 meters high..
This record will only last for a year, since in 1931, another building managed to reach 381 meters in height: the Empire State Building.
An Amazing Art Deco Building
At the time of its construction, the Chrysler Building was an architectural feat for several reasons. Its size of course, but also the scale of the project, which required more than 20,000 tons of steel. But beyond that, it is above all the Art Deco style of this building that makes an impression and makes it the favorite building of many New Yorkers.
It is clear that this skyscraper is unlike any other thanks to its imposing spire of course, but also its amazing decorations such as the pineapples on the 24th floor. Certain ornaments make direct reference to Chrysler brand vehicles: in particular, on the 31st floor we find the same eagles as those that were on the hoods of cars of the time.
Moreover, the entire ground floor was devoted to an exhibition of vehicles, and this throughout the period during which the building belonged to the automobile brand. Today, the Chrysler Building is one of the most photographed buildings in New York City, but it is also possible to visit parts of it
Visit The Chrysler Building
By visiting the Chrysler Building, you can discover its magnificent interior decorations, with its Art Deco-style lobby, its impressive light fixtures and its superb elevator doors. An informative panel traces the history of the place and gives some key figures, but the building mainly housing residences and offices, it is not possible to visit it in full.
However, an observation platform located on the 61st floor of the skyscraper should open its doors soon: its construction was approved in 2020.
How To Get To The Chrysler Building?
The Chrysler Building is located in Manhattan, at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street. Its exact address is 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, 10174.
It is very close to Grand Central Terminal station : it is therefore extremely well connected and you can get there by subway with lines 4, 5, 6, 7 and S by getting off at Grand Central – 42nd St station.
We are coming to the end of this article! I hope I was able to help you in your search for information. If you are currently organizing your stay and you do not yet know where to sleep in New York, I recommend that you read my article in which I share with you my favorite neighborhoods and accommodations. Also, don’t forget to think about the New York City Pass, in order to save on your visits to the most touristic places in the city!