The Woolworth Building transformed New York City’s skyline at the beginning of the twentieth century and remains one of the most famous skyscrapers in the United States.
With its soaring Gothic architecture and remarkable craftsmanship, the Woolworth Building continues to be one of the city's greatest architectural treasures. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert for millionaire Frank W. Woolworth, founder of the famous Five & Dime Store chain, the Woolworth Building was intended to symbolize both innovation and commercial success.
Construction of Woolworth Building was commissioned in 1910. The design process took just one year, while the skyscraper itself was completed between 1911 and 1913. Remarkably, the entire building was finished in only two years—an extraordinary achievement even by today's construction standards.
When the Woolworth Building officially opened in 1913, it immediately earned the nickname "The Cathedral of Commerce." Its richly decorated Gothic façade, inspired by Europe's great cathedrals, reflected the enormous success of the Woolworth retail empire, whose stores had become famous not only across the United States but around the world.
Standing 241 meters (792 feet) tall, the Woolworth Building became the tallest building in the world, a title it held until 1930. Its elegant silhouette dominated the Manhattan skyline for nearly two decades and helped define the era of New York's first great skyscrapers.
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Woolworth Building
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