405 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York
One of the most recognizable and most beautiful buildings in Manhattan. The Chrysler Building was built in 1930, and for just over a year it held the title of the tallest skyscraper in New York. Despite the fact that the honor then went on to the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building is still one of the most striking architectural masterpieces in the city.
The top of the building makes the building easy to recognize: it follows the design of the caps on Chrysler cars at that time. William Van Alen, the building architect, was inspired and had his vision after he saw a Chrysler car radiator. The building is located at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue, and the best photos are from the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street (next to the New York Public Library).
You can get inside the building only Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm. But still it is not possible to go beyond the lobby. The Chrysler building today is an office building and it is closed to tourists.
