CHRYSLER BUILDING

It is one of New Yorkers' favorite skyscrapers and one of the iconic monuments of the Big Apple. Built in 1930 and one year older than the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building was for one year the world's tallest skyscraper, with its 77 floors and 318 metres high. It is recognizable by its graceful appearance, its giant eagle-shaped gargoyles and its fantastic, brilliant dome reminiscent of a fairy tale dungeon. Owner Walter P. Chrysler (1875-1940), an automobile tycoon, wanted a building to immortalize his firm's reputation. New York owes him the most imaginative of his Art Deco masterpieces. It only took two years to build the skyscraper. Note - a rare occurrence at the time - that no workers died during the construction of the building. For the record, you should also know that the building never belonged to the Chrysler brand! Walter Chrysler wanted his children rather than his company to inherit the building, so the Chrysler family sold the skyscraper in 1953, and the building has since been bought back many times. A Abu Dhabi investment group now owns 90% of it. The view from the top of the buidling is incredible, but the observation post on the 71st floor has unfortunately not been open to the public since 1945. Otherwise, you can admire the entrance of black marble from Georgia, the red marble lobby of Morocco, or the elevators made of precious wood. On the ceiling, a gigantic fresco in colour. A short but essential visit.