Page 153 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

L OWER MID T OWN  151

into position
through the
roof, ensuring
that the building
would be higher than
the Bank of Manhattan,
then just completed
downtown by Van Alen’s great
rival, H. Craig Severance.
Stainless-steel Van Alen was poorly
gargoyle on the rewarded for his labors.
Chrysler Building Chrysler accused him of
accepting bribes from
5 Chrysler Building contractors and refused to
pay him. Van Alen’s career
405 Lexington Ave. Map 9 A1.
Tel (212) 682-3070. q 42nd St-Grand never recovered from the slur.
Central. Open office hours The stunning lobby, once Entrance to the Daily News Building
(7am–6pm), lobby only. 7 used as a showroom for
Chrysler cars, was perfectly 6 Daily News
Walter P. Chrysler began his restored in 1978. It is lavishly Building
career in a Union Pacific Railroad decorated with patterned
machine shop, but his passion marbles and granite from 220 E 42nd St. Map 9 B1.
for the motor car helped him around the world and has a q 42nd St-Grand Central.
rise swiftly to the top of this chromed steel trim. A vast Open 8am–6pm Mon–Fri.
industry to found, in 1925, the painted ceiling by Edward
corporation bearing his name. Trumball shows transportation The Daily News was founded
His wish for a headquarters in scenes of the late 1920s. in 1919, and by 1925 it was a
New York that symbolized his Although the Chrysler million-seller. It was known,
company led to a building that Cor poration never occupied the rather scathingly, as “the servant
will always be linked with the building as their headquarters, girl’s bible,” for its concentration
golden age of motoring. their name remains, as firm a on scandals, celebrities, and
Following Chrysler’s wishes, fixture as the gargoyles. murders, its readable style, and
the stainless-steel Art heavy use of illustration. Over
Deco spire resembles a the years it has stuck to what
car radiator grille; the it does best, and the formula
building’s series of has paid off handsomely. It
stepped setbacks are revealed stories such as the
emblazoned with romance of Edward VIII and
winged radiator caps, Mrs. Simpson, and has become
wheels, and stylized renowned for its punchy
automobiles; and there headlines. Its circulation figures
are gargoyles modeled are still among the highest in
on hood ornaments the United States.
from the 1929 Its former headquarters,
Chrysler Plymouth. designed by Raymond Hood in
It stands at 1,046ft 1930, have rows of brown and
(320 m), but it lost the black brick alternating with
title of tallest building windows to create a vertical
in the world to the striped effect. Hood’s lobby
Empire State Building a is familiar to many as that of
few months after its the Daily Planet in the 1980s
completion in 1930. Superman movies. It includes
William Van Alen’s the world’s largest interior
77-story Chrysler globe, and bronze lines on the
Building and its floor indicate the direction of
shining crown are still, world cities and the position
however, among the of the planets. At night, the
city’s best-known and intricate detail over the front
most-loved landmarks. entrance of the building is lit
The crowning spire from within by neon. The
was kept a secret until newspaper’s offices are now
the last moment, when, at 4 New York Plaza, but this
having been built in the building has been designated
fire shaft, it was raised Elevator door at the Chrysler Building as a national historic landmark.

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