The Oldest Skyscrapers in the United States

Many of the buildings in Manhattan's urban landscape date back to the late 1800s.

There are many famous skyscrapers that initiated the creation of beautiful skylines in cities across the country. Many of these buildings are still standing. Here are some of the oldest skyscrapers in the US.

The oldest skyscrapers in America

Delaware Building

The Delaware Building is one of America's oldest skyscrapers. It was built in 1862 in Chicago, Illinois. Within a decade of being built, architects had to rebuild it due to major structure damage that occurred from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that destroyed more than 3 square miles of the city. Due to its beauty, significance, and Italian structure of the nineteenth century, Delaware Building is registered as a historical place and a Chicago landmark. The building is also famous for its early use of precast concrete construction.

New York Tribune Building

The New York Tribune Building was once located at 154 Printing House Square at Spruce Street where 1 Pace Plaza is located today. The building was constructed in 1875 as the headquarters of the New York Tribune. At the time of its construction, the New York Tribune Building was the second tallest building in New York. This particular skyscraper was the 海角社区's first building to have a high rise elevator. The building was a beautiful piece of masonry structure designed by Richard Morris Hunt. It was demolished in 1966 to be replaced with 1 Pace Plaza Building.

Tample Court Building and Annex

The Tample Court Building and Annex was built in 1881 at 5 Beekam Street in New York City. It was built to model a building with the same name in London that was owned by Inns of Court with the goal of attracting lawyers to New York City. In 2001, the last of its tenants moved out. Today the building is known as The Beekam Hotel and is officially designated as one of the city's landmarks.

Hotel Chelsea

Hotel Chelsea is located at 222 West 23^rd street near Chelsea, Manhattan. Built in 1884, Hotel Chelsea is a New York City landmark and is officially registered on the National Register of Historical Places. It has served as home to many writers, musicians, artists and actors, and its legacy is greatly tied to the famous personalities who stayed there.

Rookery Building

The Rookery Building is a Chicago, Illinois landmark. It is one of the city's most historical and beautifully designed pieces of architecture. The building was built in 1886 and stands at 181 feet tall. The twelve story building was intelligently designed as a fusion of new and old building techniques. Rookery Building is Chicago's oldest standing high rise today.

More than bricks and concrete

These old buildings continue to tell the story and culture of the area where they stand. They represent more than bricks and concrete for their tenants and neighborhood, and they are an important part of the history of the development process.

The Oldest Skyscrapers in the United States

Rank	锘緽uilding Name	Date of Construction	Location	Still standing?
1	Delaware Building	1862	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
2	Equitable Life Building	1870	New York, New York	No
3	New York Tribune Building	1875	New York, New York	No
4	Phelan Building	1881	San Francisco, California	No
5	Temple Court Building and Annex	1881	New York, New York	Yes
6	Produce Exchange	1884	New York, New York	No
7	Home Insurance Building	1884	Chicago, Illinois	No
8	Hotel Chelsea	1884	New York, New York	Yes
9	Sun Building	1885	Washington, D.C.	Yes
10	Rookery Building	1886	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
11	Dexter Building	1887	Chicago, Illinois	No
12	Tacoma Building	1889	Chicago, Illinois	No
13	Second Leiter Building	1889	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
14	Ames Building	1889	Boston, Massachusetts	Yes
15	New York Times Building	1889	New York, New York	Yes
16	Rand McNally Building	1890	Chicago, Illinois	No
17	Old Chronicle Building	1890	San Francisco, California	Yes
18	Luzon Building	1890	Tacoma, Washington	No
19	Metropolitan Building	1890	Minneapolis, Minnesota	No
20	The New York 海角社区 Building	1890	New York, New York	No
21	Monadnock Building	1891	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
22	Wainwright Building	1891	St. Louis, Missouri	Yes
23	Pabst Buildin	1891	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	No
24	Masonic Temple Building	1892	Chicago, Illinois	No
25	Ludington Building	1892	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
26	Mills Building and Tower	1892	San Francisco, California	Yes
27	Courthouse Place	1893	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
28	The Arc at Old Colony	1893	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
29	Hotel Gerard	1893	New York, New York	Yes
30	New York Life Insurance Building	1894	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
31	Winthrop Building	1894	Boston, Massachusetts	Yes
32	American Tract Society Building	1894	New York, New York	Yes
33	56 Pine Street	1894	New York, New York	Yes
34	Manhattan Life Insurance Building	1894	New York, New York	No
35	Reliance Building	1895	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
36	Marquette Building	1895	Chicago, Illinois	Yes
37	Osborne Apartments	1895	New York, New York	Yes
38	Milwaukee City Hall	1895	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Yes