Architect: Thomas Hastings; Sculpture: Karl Bitter, Isidore Conti Date: 1916 Location: Grand Army Plaza at Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets. The exquisite female figure atop the fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel is an allegorical depiction of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitful abundance. Symbolizing bounty, she holds a basket of fruit as…
Tag: New York architecture
St. Patrick’s Cathedral – one spectacular folly!
Architect: James Renwick Jr. Built: 1858-1879 John Hughes, Archbishop of New York, had a vision for a new, grandiose Catholic cathedral that would offset the indignities suffered by the Catholics in 19th century New York. They called it Hughes’ folly. Up until the 19th century, New York was a Protestant stronghold with an insignificant Catholic…
The Flatiron – what’s in the name?
Architect Daniel H. Burnham Date 1902 What better way to advertise a successful company than to have a striking building bear its name! The Fuller Company, one of the largest construction companies in the United States (aka the world), erected a highly unusual building to house its headquarters that was to be called the Fuller…
The Empire State Building – the Eighth Wonder of the World saved by a Hollywood movie
Tallest in the world for 41 years and saved by King Kong… Location: 350 5th Ave between 33rd and 34th Streets Built: 1931 Architect: William F. Lamb of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon The first in the world to rise over 100 stories, and constructed in mere 14 months, the Empire State Building stood as the…
“Mesopotamian” in Manhattan
Although New York skyscrapers bear no restraint in height or a lack of diversity in architectural influences, colorful they are not! What separates the Fred F. French Building from the rest is its warm hue and multicolored decorations. The only “Mesopotamian” or “Babylonian” inspired skyscraper in Manhattan, The Fred F. French Building, is covered in…
