History and architecture
William Van Alen designed the Chrysler Building for automobile manufacturer Walter P. Chrysler. Completed in 1930, it briefly held the world's height record before the Empire State Building overtook it in 1931. The stainless-steel crown makes the tower recognizable well beyond Lexington Avenue.
The car references continue below the crown: radiator-cap ornaments project from the 31st floor, alongside a band of stylized automobiles. Higher up, steel eagle heads mark another setback. At street level, the tall entrance frames and patterned metal screens bring the same attention to detail within closer view.
What to look for
- Triangular windows set into the crown's overlapping steel arches.
- Eagle heads projecting from the upper corners.
- The metal-and-glass entrance screens on Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed September 5, 2026.