Car Rental NYC and the Woolworth Building

There are many unique and unusual buildings in New York City. One such high rise is the Woolworth Building. Commissioned by Frank W. Woolworth in 1910, the Woolworth Building is one of NYC's oldest examples of skyscraper architecture. With over 60 stories of habitable office space, the Woolworth Building once held the coveted title of "world's tallest building" for seven years (1913-1930). More than ninety years after its construction, it still ranks as one of the 50 tallest buildings standing in the United States. Designed with a fluid neo-Gothic style, the Woolworth Building is stylistically comparable to many a European Gothic Cathedral. In fact, Reverend S. Parkes Cadman nicknamed the Woolworth building the "Cathedral of Commerce" during the buildings opening ceremony proceedings. Tall and sturdy, the Woolworth Building is still an extremely popular tourist attraction among car rental NYC customers so don't miss your chance to see it. A quick car rental NYC drive to Lower Manhattan is all that separates you from this architectural wonder.

Architecture and Urban Legends - The Woolworth Myth

The Woolworth Building exhibits a number of beautiful architectural features including strongly articulated piers, a pyramidal cap and an ornate cruciform lobby. But did you know that there's a lesser known wrinkle in the Woolworth Building's architecture? Urban legend has it that a strange wind sensation along the Barclay Street side of the building is responsible for lifting many a woman's skirt. This unexplained phenomenon is supposedly caused by the building's multi-tiered design, but many skeptics say that's a ludicrous excuse. What do you think? Why not stop by and see for yourself during your upcoming car rental NYC vacation? Other exciting architectural details on and within the building include stone gargoyles, sculpted caricatures, colored terra-cotta panels and pinnacles. The Woolworth Building remains one of New York City's most ornate examples of early 20th century design. The building is still currently used as office space.

Take a Step Back in Time

If you have the opportunity to visit the Woolworth Building's lobby, take it. Decorated with vaulted ceilings and mosaics, this lobby is simply stunning during the daytime. The lobby is also home to three of the building's founding fathers. Caricatures of architect Cass Gilbert, building resident Louis Horowitz and Frank Woolworth himself have been sculpted out of bronze and inlaid into the lobby floor. There are also a number of murals by Paul Jennewein inside the lobby. If you stand near the security guard's central podium in the lobby and crane your neck you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the works Commerce and Labor. Woolworth personal office has also been preserved inside the building. It features a French Empire style and sports a ton of polished marble flooring. Original Woolworth Building tenants included the Irving Trust Bank and Columbia Records.

Money Makes the World Go Round

When Frank Woolworth decided that he wanted to build a new company headquarter he knew he wanted the building to be big and beautiful. When Woolworth met with Cass Gilbert he insisted that no detail be spared. The building eventual ended up costing Woolworth a cool $13,500,000. He paid the entire sum in cash. The Woolworth Building continues to tower above the Lower Manhattan skyline today, reaching nearly 792 feet into the heavens. Its unique tiered design is truly one-of-a-kind. Car rental NYC clients are encouraged to visit the Woolworth Building an exciting sightseeing experience. The building is located at 133 Broadway Street. It is almost directly across from New York City Hall. If you would like to learn a little background on the building before visiting it All Car Rent-A-Car recommends visiting Lower Manhattan's Skyscraper Museum for more details. The Woolworth Building is one of a handful of New York Skyscrapers profiled in detail at the institution. To learn more about the Skyscraper Museum please refer to All Car's car rental NYC Skyscraper Museum travel guide information page.

Check out the Staten Island car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 950 Bloomingdale Rd., Staten Island, NY 10309