Woolworth Building - New York City, NY

Address:233 Broadway
New York, New York

Built by famous architect Cass Gilbert for Frank Woolworth nearly one hundred years ago, the Woolworth Building still towers over much of the Manhattan cityscape, standing at 792 feet 1 inches tall. Among the fifty tallest buildings in America, the Woolworth Building was the world's tallest building between 1913 and 1930, with the construction of the Chrysler building. The Woolworth building is sometimes called the Cathedral of Commerce for its ornate Gothic style. Stylistically, the building represents the Gothic Revival style, as is evidenced by its many gargoyles, turrets, and pinnacles.

The Woolworth building is a great example of neo-gothic style in the New World. The entrance facing Broadway resembles European Cathedral entrances. The many symbols decorating the entrance represent Woolworth's business acumen – salamanders to represent the transmutation of iron into gold, and owls to represent wisdom.

The Woolworth building may no longer be the world's tallest building, or even Manhattan's, but its splendor can still be enjoyed by many today. The observation deck is currently closed and most of the building is closed to tourists.