Built in 1930 and standing an imposing 77 floors with over a million square feet of viable space, New York City’s Chrysler Building is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world and held the record for the tallest from 1930 to 31. Chrysler is located at Turtle Bay in Manhattan and this Art-Deco style landmark is one of the city’s most famous buildings.

Walter P. Chrysler decided he wanted a skyscraper built in New York in 1928. To help him see this dream to fruition, Walter enlisted one of the top Art Deco architects in the world, William Van Alen. No stranger to complicated designs featuring elaborate exteriors with simplistic interiors, Val Alen’s design made it possible for the building to be constructed at an unheard of rate of 4 floors per week.

During the period, there was somewhat of a race among property owners to see who could build the world’s tallest skyscraper. When the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930, it held that top spot until the Empire State Building was finally completed the following year.

Although Van Alen had designed the city’s most impressive building, Walter Chrysler outright refused to pay him for his work. This, unfortunately, was a common occurrence when dealing with the uber-rich New Yorkers of the era; the Great Depression’s oncoming was causing massive penny pinching, even among the nation’s wealthiest citizens.

Walter Chrysler was the famed founder of Chrysler Motors, and many aspects of Val Alen’s design paid homage to the motorist’s profession. These touches are found all over the building, including replica hood ornament eagles on the 61^st floor and even radiator caps used in the construction.

The aspect that has made the Chrysler Building stand out over the years, however, is its impressive crown that extends high into the sky. The triangular window designs and unique construction made this building far ahead of its time. At night, the crown of the building lights up and is the centerpiece of the New York skyline.

The building has had many owners over the years, but none have changed the famous name. The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company owned the building during the 1950s and 60s, and Jack Kent Cooke owned it during the 1980s and mid 90s. Today, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council owns roughly 90% of the building.

Over the years, the building has undergone many minor transformations and refurbishing processes. However, the exterior of the building is still how the original architect intended it to look. It is one of the only buildings in New York not to be changed dramatically to blend in with the surroundings. Instead, other buildings have mimicked Chrysler.