What's on the rooftops of New York's most famous skyscrapers? - IT'S HISTORY

Comments · 1.3K

• IT

  @ITSHISTORY · 4 years ago · pinned

  Claim your SPECIAL OFFER for MagellanTV here: <a href="https://try.magellantv.com/itshistory">https://try.magellantv.com/itshistory</a>. Start your free trial TODAY so you can watch the Rooftops Of The Great Cities, and the rest of MagellanTV’s history collection: <a href="https://www.magellantv.com/series/rooftops-of-the-great-cities">https://www.magellantv.com/series/rooftops-of-the-great-cities</a>

  68

• MI

  @michellebowers8652 · 4 years ago (edited)

  About 30 years ago I was in NYC for work. &nbsp;I’m an architect, and I decided to check out the Chrysler Building. In the magnificent Art Deco lobby, I got in the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor. To my surprise, it was unlocked. I wandered around for some time, it was was all open and empty. There was a big boardroom with a huge 1930s era mural of New York Harbor. There was some kind of private bar room. I opened one of the double hung windows (60 floors up!) and looked out over the gargoyles. It was quite a unique experience.

  927

• SJ

  @SJR_Media_Group · 4 years ago

  One thing that has always impressed me about these older landmarks was the use of natural stone, inside and out. Limestone, Brick, Granite, and Marble. Imagine being a brick layer on scaffolding hundreds of feet up installing a million bricks, or other stone. Then, on top of that, you have gorgeous Art Decco architecture and use of stainless steel, aluminum, and chrome. These have survived the test of time, many are close to 100 years old now.

  437

• AN

  @andrewfischer8564 · 4 years ago (edited)

  as an electrician i had the honor to have spent a few weeks doing a renovation 30 years ago, i got to go into the ledge and &nbsp;radio tower of the empire state building... &nbsp;ive built many of the towers that went up between 87 and 2021 including the freedom tower. &nbsp;i didnt make it to the top of that one though. and was at the very very top of many others...local #3

  728

• VA

  @valeriebarber4325 · 4 years ago

  In 1969 the Chrysler building was open to explore. A friend and I were able to go up into it unescorted and unbothered. The thing which now, looking back on it, impresses me the most is that this was not a building that was decorated only in the public spaces. The exquisite Art Deco &nbsp;detail was everywhere including in the smallest nooks and crannies that would not ordinarily be seen. It’s been a long time since such detail was used &nbsp;in such areas. That building is a jewel !!! I doubt if random people are allowed free reign in this day and age to wander into myriad halls of this beautiful building. Ironically, at this time, the basement was being prepared in lower manhattan for the twin towers. Since the disaster on 911 all such buildings must have security such that people will never be allowed the freedom to see what we saw. I wish I had known that at the time because although I was awed by it’s beauty I had no idea that we were seeing something that would rarely be seen in the future.

  170

• EA

  @eandd7703 · 4 years ago (edited)

  I was such a lucky as a kid. My dad was an elevator mechanic in the 80&apos;s when I was a kid. With his keys we got to go up to the deserted cloud club at the Chrysler building, &nbsp;an express elevator to the top of the empire state building and top of the Hemsley building top crows nest area. &nbsp;We went to so many areas that were so cool and not open to the public. &nbsp;I am so grateful for those memories.

  53

• CA

  @camithewitch5265 · 4 years ago

  I actually know about a person who was in the 104th floor of the Empire State Building besides the maintenance workers. Her name was Ann Darrow. Apparently some giant gorilla was in exhibition in Broadway, broke out of its enclosure, grabbed her and climbed all the way to the top of the building. Crazy story.

  284

• ST

  @SteveMND · 4 years ago

  I think anyone who has ever seen the groundbreaking documentary &quot;Ghostbusters&quot; is keenly aware of the sort of things they put at the top of those sorts of New York City buildings.

  57

• VI

  @VimyScout · 4 years ago

  I was in NY just a few months after the September 11 attacks. I stayed at the UN plaza Hotel with my now wife and young daughter i think was the 43rd floor with a magnificent view of the skyline. Each night floodlights shone straight up in to the sky where the towers once stood and I remember it being a beautiful but also very sombre sight. The Empire State and Chrysler building&apos;s I also could see so well, especially at night. I did realise a life long dream by getting to the top of the Empire State and the view was breathtaking. A few days later I was married to my wife in Central Park ❤️👍

  46

• AM

  @Amanda-kw1vi · 4 years ago

  For those of us who don&apos;t see them often, it&apos;s amazing how big and tall they are....I couldn&apos;t imagine being a person coming from a rugged one level small house and seeing these in the late 1800s early 1900s...

  54

• FR

  @frankcanzanella6753 · 4 years ago

  As a cab driver in NYC since 1973 it’s nice to learn more about the buildings that I for so long have admired. My father was a contractor who built buildings in NYC. So my feelings for structures in the city go deeper than the ordinary person.

  45

• KE

  @kericorley9387 · 2 years ago

  These are not just buildings, they are pieces of art. I hope we preserve them as long as we can.

  9