Shiiiiiine like the top of the Chrysler Building!

Magnet #118 - Chrysler Building

And, it really does shine, too!

I love the Chrysler Building - it's one of my favorites here in the city, and in the world.

Completed in 1930, it was the winner of a skyscraper contest between architect Van Alen and the folks down at 40 Wall Street. Everyone thought 40 Wall Street would be the tallest building in the world, but little did they know that a spire was being constructed - in secret! - inside the building.

So, when they neared the end, they ran the spire up through the building, and boo-YAH, 185 extra feet!

C'mon - how awesome is that?

Also, besides being supershiny because of the stainless steel at the top, it was basically one big ad for the cars. The 61st floor has Chrysler eagle hood ornaments. The 31st floor are basically Chrysler radiator caps. The exterior ornamentation is just gorgeous - especially on a sunny day.

Then, if you run into the lobby, you can see even more of the Art Deco treatment - in the windows, the fixtures, the elevators. It's just the coolest building - ever. Apparently, there's some dentist who has his exam room chair facing out the supercool windows near the top.

The Chrysler Building lost its tallest building in the world status to the Empire State Building shortly after, but it's supposedly still the tallest brick building.

Eh, tallest or not, it's still one of the prettiest buildings around.