The Chrysler Building in Manhattan is just one heck of a cool building. The Art Deco design by architect William van Alen was critizized by many contemporaries as having "no significance as serious design". Well, more than 80 years later it´s considered as being one of the most distinct skyscrapers around. Walter P. Chrysler of the Chrysler Corporation wanted a cool building and William van Alen gave it to him, with automobile ornaments sticking from the facade and everything. Interesting detail: the building never belonged to the Chrysler Corporation as Walter P. Chrysler payed the check out of his private pocket. Today it belongs to some oil-rich country or the other. 

It is difficult to take decent pictures of Manhattan and especially of highrise buildings. An average tourist

with the average time available on a trip to New York only has limited possibilities.

(Here´s one of my favorite historic photos of the building when

few other buildings of this dimension were around).

The gargoyle (hood ornament) and radiator caps design are quite stunning. Straight outta Gotham.

Iconic needle.

The neighborhood with Grand Central in foreground and the MetLife (former PanAm Building,

Gropius was one of the architects) to the left. 

View from the Empire State Building. Note the window cleaners on the platform.

The USA Gallery

The "Close to Home USA" Gallery