The world’s first skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885 in Chicago. It was 12 stories tall and was the first building to use a structural steel frame to bear the weight which allowed for the record height. It was demolished in 1931.
Chicago also has two other early skyscrapers. The first is the Wrigley Building, built between 1920 and 1924 and consisting of the 30-story south section and 21-story north section. The first photo is dated ca. 1925.
The other is the 37-story Carbine&Carbon Building (now the Pendry Chicago Hotel), which opened in 1929. Interestingly, the 24K gold leaf is only 1/5000th of an inch thick.
Philadelphia’s contribution to early skyscrapers is the Land Trust Building consisting of 15 stories and completed in 1898. The south annex is 22 stories and was completed 1902. The first photo is dated ca. 1905.
This photo is called “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.” It was taken in 1932 during construction of Rockefeller Plaza–a 67-story office building adjacent to Rockefeller Center. The photo was re-created in 2017 during construction of CNA Center in Chicago. Notice at the far left, the two men have replaced a cigarette with a cell phone.
