1913 was New York’s annus mirabilis of modern structural wonders, beginning with the February opening of Grand Central Terminal. The “next big thing” was the Woolworth Building, which The Skyscraper Museum celebrates in its centennial year with an exhibition that honors its ambitions and architectural artistry. The exhibit The Woolworth Building @ 100, at the Skyscraper Museum in New York City, runs through July 14, 2013.
On the night of April 24, 1913, the Woolworth Building illuminated the New York night as 80,000 incandescent bulbs throughout the tower flashed on, activated when President Woodrow Wilson flipped a ceremonial switch in Washington , D.C. The brilliant spectacle was a career - crowning achievement for the tower’s owner, the five - and - dime store king Frank W. Woolworth, who paid for the skyscraper with his personal fortune and took a hands - on role in every decision of its design.
The Woolworth Building opened as the world's tallest building, standing 792 feet above downtown Manhattan. But even though it is now far eclipsed by other towering skyscrapers gracing the New York City skyline, the building's history stands the test of time. Blouin ARTINFO's Vanessa Yurkevich got an inside look at The Woolworth Building and the exhibit dedicated to its legacy at the Skyscraper Museum.
