New York’s urban landscape is an amalgam of innovative styles that span the gamut of American architectural history. A backdrop preferred by both Hollywood and television, the New York skyline has evolved over the years as structures have been erected and demolished, and it is recognizable around the globe as a symbol of American innovation and prosperity. Students of architecture and amateur aficionados will thrill at the number and variety of prime examples located throughout the city. The following are select examples of architectural landmarks, by no means a complete list. If you are interested in learning more, the AIA Guide to New York City and the Blue Guide New York are useful references.   See also this New York architecture site for plenty of photos and background information.

In addition, architecture and urban planning fans will love a stop at the Municipal Arts Society.  This fabulous organization offers exhibits, tours, and classes, and is one of the premier societies responsible for the preservation and promulgation of great architecture in NYC.  Check out their website:  www.mas.org.  Numerous tours to whet (and satiate) the appetite!  And their incredible bookstore, same address, is tiny but jam-packed with thousands of great books, gifts, cards, even professional test preparation materials, for the architecture lover in your life.

Municipal Art Society--Urban Center, 457 Madison Ave. near E. 51st St. (enter through gates, head left).  Galleries open daily, 11:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Closed Thurs. &  Sun.

  • Brooklyn Bridge , ( website)  famed city landmark and symbol that was revolutionary at the time of its construction in ; for a new perspective on Manhattan, be sure to stroll its span all the way to Brooklyn
  • Cathedral of St. John the Divine , ( website) 1047 Amsterdam Avenue – located on the west side in Morningside Heights, this impressive gothic Episcopalian cathedral, when finished, will be the largest church in the world
  • Chrysler Building , 405 Lexington Avenue – beautiful stainless-steel art deco structure located in Midtown
  • Citicorp Center, 601 Lexington Avenue – the angled roof of this office tower is yet another well-known symbol of the Manhattan skyline
  • Empire State Building , ( website) 350 Fifth Avenue – arguably the most famous New York architectural landmark, constructed in the art deco style in 1931
  • Flatiron Building , ( website) 175 Fifth Avenue – unique triangular structure constructed near Union Square in 1902
  • Museum of Modern Art , ( website) 11 West 53rd Street – contains one of the world’s richest collections of contemporary art, newly renovated by architect Yoshio Taniguchi
  • New York Public Library , ( website) 5th Avenue and 42nd Street – completed in 1911, this architectural masterpiece houses one of the country’s major research libraries
  • Plaza Hotel , 768 5th Avenue – ever the architectural landmark, the grand dame of New York hotels, once home to the fictional girl Eloise, closed in the spring of 2005 to be renovated into residential condo units
  • Rockefeller Center , ( website) between 47th and 51st Streets from 5th to 7th Avenues – midtown office and retail complex constructed from 1932 to 1940 famous for its outdoor plaza and ice skating rink
  • St. Patrick’s Cathedral , ( website) Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. The mailing address and parish house is 460 Madison Avenue – midtown Catholic cathedral
  • Skyscraper Museum , ( website) 39 Battery Place, Battery Park.
  • Trinity Church , ( website) 74 Trinity Place, – completed in 1846 and located in what is now Lower Manhattan, this neo-gothic structure has played a significant role in the city’s religious life
  • United Nations , ( website) 1st Avenue between 42nd and 48th Streets, – located on the East River, this prominent government office center retains a distinct modern feel (for tour information, click here)
  • Woolworth Building , 233 Broadway – Cass Gilbert incorporated gothic elements into this ornately-designed skyscraper, a technological innovation at its time.