Chrysler Building

Approx. Time: 2 hours
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate

The Chrysler Building was designed by architect, Mr. William Van Alen (born in Brooklyn in 1883, died 1954). It was eventually sold to William Chrysler, owner of Chrysler motor cars. For a few months, it was the world's tallest building at 1046 feet tall, until it was surpassed by the Empire State Building.



At the time the building was being constructed, New York City was in the midst of a 'skyscraper war'. The competition grew, to see who could build the tallest and most glamorous building in the world. At the time of construction, #40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building were the same height, at 925 feet. H. Craig Severance, the architect for #40 Wall Street then added another two feet to his building and claimed it as the worlds tallest. Little did he know that Mr. van Alen had secretly gotten permits from the City of New York to add a spire (Made of Nirosta stainless steel which was made by Krupp of Germany) to the building, which was being constructed inside the upper floors! Sometime in November of 1929, in a matter of 90 minutes, the five pieces that made up the needle were hoisted up and put into place, thereby making it the worlds tallest building, by 123 feet! It would now also beat The Eiffel Tower, and become not only the worlds tallest building, but also the worlds tallest structure.


At the top is the CLOUD CLUB on the 66th, 67th and 68th floors, The Cloud Club was operating before the building was even opened to the public - it was used to show prospective tenants the views of Manhattan and it also functioned as a cafeteria to feed construction workers that were finishing up the building.

Intended as a place for the worlds elite and famous to attend parties and have business meetings, the Cloud Club lived up to its expectations in its early years. Bouquets of fresh flowers were on each table and every woman that came in was given a corsage (Thanks Polly!). Waiters pulled chairs every time someone rose and they jumped to light cigarettes and cigars.





The observatory, 71st floor, has been completely closed since about 1945 or thereabouts and now houses a company.


"Art Deco in France found its American equivalent in the design of the New York skyscrapers of the 1920s. The Chrysler Building...was one of the most accomplished essays in the style."

—John Julius Norwich, ed. The World Atlas of Architecture. p366.