How the Chrysler Building Secretly Became the World’s Tallest — For 11 Months

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On the morning of November 23, 1929, construction workers at the top of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper did something that had never been done before. They raised a 185-foot steel spire through the roof of the building in just 90 minutes. By the time their rivals figured out what had happened, it was already too late.

Two Men, One Sky

In 1928, two architects who had once been business partners were racing to build the tallest building in the world. On one side: William Van Alen, hired by automobile magnate Walter Chrysler. On the other: H. Craig Severance, designing the Bank of Manhattan Trust Building at 40 Wall Street.

The rivalry was personal. Van Alen and Severance had dissolved their partnership under bitter circumstances. Now they were competing for the most coveted title in architecture, and both men knew it.

For much of 1929, Severance appeared to be winning. His building at 40 Wall Street climbed steadily toward 927 feet. When Van Alen adjusted his own plans, Severance added a few more feet in response. The race escalated floor by floor through the spring and summer.

The Secret Being Built Inside the Crown

What Severance didn’t know was that Van Alen had stopped playing by the rules of the race.

Inside the building’s distinctive Art Deco crown — assembled in secret, piece by piece — workers were constructing something extraordinary. Van Alen had designed a 185-foot stainless steel spire he called “the vertex.” It was assembled in four sections entirely inside the building, with no one outside aware of its existence or its purpose.

Severance finished his building at 40 Wall Street and declared victory. The Bank of Manhattan Trust Building stood at 927 feet. He went to bed believing he’d won.

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Ninety Minutes That Rewrote the Skyline

On the morning of November 23, 1929, workers at the Chrysler Building began hoisting the four sections of the secret spire upward through the open top of the crown. The whole operation took just 90 minutes.

When the spire locked into place, the Chrysler Building stood at 1,046 feet — 119 feet taller than Severance’s finished building. The world’s tallest structure had just changed. And there was nothing Severance could do about it.

The story made headlines across the country. An automobile tycoon had hired an architect to pull off a feat of engineering deception that was entirely within the rules — audacious, elegant, and completely effective. New York had produced another legend.

The Details Worth Looking For

Most visitors to Midtown walk past the Chrysler Building without knowing what they’re looking at. The eagle gargoyles that jut from the 61st floor aren’t mythological creatures — they’re exact replicas of the hood ornaments on the 1929 Chrysler Plymouth automobile.

The stainless steel cladding on the crown was a pioneering choice. In 1930, using Nirosta steel — an early form of stainless steel — on a building at that scale was almost unheard of. It was chosen partly for how it would catch and reflect the city’s light, partly because Walter Chrysler wanted a building that looked like his cars: sleek, modern, indestructible.

Inside, the lobby is one of the most opulent spaces in Manhattan — inlaid marble floors, African wood elevator doors, and a ceiling mural 97 feet long depicting the heroism of transportation. Few people who walk through it realize they’re standing inside what was briefly the tallest building in human history.

High above all of that, on the 66th, 67th, and 68th floors, was the Cloud Club — a private dining and social club for New York’s business elite that operated until 1979. Members ate lunch above the clouds while the rest of the city went about its business far below. Just one of the many private and exclusive spaces that New York has always kept hidden from ordinary view.

The Brief Reign and the Long Legacy

The Chrysler Building held its title for just 11 months. The Empire State Building surpassed it in April 1931, and the race was over for good. You might expect that a building that held the record for less than a year would fade from memory.

Instead, the opposite happened. The Chrysler Building became one of the most beloved buildings on earth. In surveys of New Yorkers and architects alike, it consistently ranks as the most beautiful skyscraper in the city — more admired than the Empire State Building, more photographed than One World Trade. The story of the secret spire may have something to do with that. New Yorkers love a clever hustle, even — especially — when it’s done in broad daylight. You can see more of what makes New York’s skyline unlike any other in our guide to the city’s most surprising architectural secrets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the Chrysler Building?

The lobby is open to the public on weekdays during business hours, usually 8am to 6pm. It’s free to enter and worth every minute. The observation deck and upper floors are private office space and not accessible to visitors, but the lobby alone is one of the finest Art Deco interiors in the world.

How long was the Chrysler Building actually the world’s tallest building?

Just 11 months. The spire was raised in November 1929, and the Empire State Building surpassed it in April 1931. Despite its short reign, the Chrysler Building is consistently voted the most beautiful skyscraper in New York City.

What is the best time to visit the Chrysler Building?

Weekday mornings are best for visiting the lobby without crowds. The building looks spectacular at dusk and after dark, when the stainless steel crown catches the last light and the illuminated spire stands out against the sky. Viewing from Lexington Avenue or from the Tudor City overpass gives you the best full-height perspective.

Where is the Chrysler Building located?

The Chrysler Building stands at 405 Lexington Avenue at East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, directly across from Grand Central Terminal. It’s easily reachable by subway via the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S trains to Grand Central–42nd Street.

Stand on Lexington Avenue on a clear evening and look up. The spire is still there — the same stainless steel, the same Art Deco eagles, the same quietly triumphant shape that fooled a city and briefly touched the sky. Whatever came after, nothing has quite replaced it.

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Plan Your New York Trip

The Chrysler Building is at 405 Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street — steps from Grand Central Terminal and easily combined with a walk through Midtown’s architectural heritage. The lobby is free to visit on weekdays. Bring a camera and look up.