Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🎨

Chrysler Building

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Chrysler Building is a famous skyscraper in New York City.

Chrysler Building Oct 2021 14
Chrysler Building Oct 2021 14

It sits in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan. This tower is a great example of Art Deco style. This style uses bold shapes and bright metals to look modern. The building is the tallest brick building in the world with a steel frame.

Chrysler Building Nov 2021
Chrysler Building Nov 2021

It is also a very important landmark for the city. People around the world recognize its unique shape and shiny surface.

Building such a tall tower required many careful steps.

Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03
Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03

Workers used a strong steel frame to hold up the structure. They filled this frame with masonry, which is a type of building material. The outside has 3,862 windows that let light into the offices. The designers even used special metal called Nirosta stainless steel. This metal was a new invention from Germany. It helped the building stay bright and shiny against the sky.

Chrysler Building detail
Chrysler Building detail

This tower has a very interesting history.

Chrysler Building Midtown Manhattan New York City 1932
Chrysler Building Midtown Manhattan New York City 1932

Walter Chrysler helped fund the project as an investment for his children. He was the leader of the Chrysler Corporation. The building was part of a race to see who could build the tallest tower. It competed against the Empire State Building and 40 Wall Street. After it was finished in 1930, it was the tallest building in the world for 11 months. It was also the very first supertall skyscraper.

There are many special details to find on the walls.

Chrysler Building detail
Chrysler Building detail

On the 31st floor, you can see metal decorations that look like car parts. These include hubcaps and fenders to honor the Chrysler brand. There are also metal ornaments that look like the winged helmet of Mercury. On the 61st floor, there are large eagles. These eagles represent the national bird of America. The building even has gargoyles that look like the stone statues on old cathedrals.

Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03
Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03

The most famous part is the shining crown at the very top.

It has seven arches that look like a sunburst pattern. This design makes the building look like a giant wheel. At night, many lights make the crown glow in different colors. In 2007, people voted it one of America's favorite pieces of architecture. It is a true icon of the New York City skyline.

Chrysler Building 2005 4
Chrysler Building 2005 4
372 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Chrysler Building spire, Manhattan, by Carol Highsmith (LOC highsm.04444).jpg
Chrysler Building spire, Manhattan, by...
File:Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03.jpg
Chrysler Building Oct 2021 03.jpg
File:Chrysler Building detail.jpg
Chrysler Building detail.jpg
File:Chrysler Building Office North Facing Window.jpg
Chrysler Building Office North Facing Window.jpg
File:Chrysler Building 2005 4.jpg
Chrysler Building 2005 4.jpg
File:Chrysler Building Nov 2021.jpg
Chrysler Building Nov 2021.jpg
File:Chrysler Building Midtown Manhattan New York City 1932.jpg
Chrysler Building Midtown Manhattan New...
File:NYCbyPinHt update.jpg
NYCbyPinHt update.jpg
Chrysler Building 1965 (cropped).tif
File:Chrysler Building Oct 2021 14.jpg
Chrysler Building Oct 2021 14.jpg
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.