Unearth The Voyage
Love skyscrapers and the jaw dropping stories behind them. This list takes you from sky high icons to record breakers, building by building, so you can feel the ascent with each step. You will discover design quirks, city rivalries, and observation decks worth planning a trip around. Ready to look up and be wowed.
20. Chrysler Building – New York, NY – 1,043 ft
You know the Chrysler Building by its brilliant crown and stainless steel arches that catch sunlight like jewelry. Completed in 1930, it briefly held the world height title and still commands Midtown with Art Deco swagger. Stand below and the terraced spire seems to rocket upward, a snapshot of New York optimism.
Step inside and you feel the craftsmanship in the marble lobby and geometric motifs. The building’s gargoyles echo hood ornaments, tying architecture to the golden age of automobiles. It is not the tallest anymore, but its personality towers over many newer glass giants.
19. 53W53 – New York, NY – 1,050 ft
Hovering beside MoMA, 53W53 slices the sky with tapering facets and exposed diagonals. Jean Nouvel’s design feels like a crystal shard pressed into Midtown, equal parts sculpture and skyscraper. From the sidewalk, the angles shift as you move, and the dark glass makes the tower feel moody and cinematic.
Inside, the residences boast lofty views and museum level amenities. The silhouette narrows as it rises, giving the skyline a sophisticated, asymmetrical accent. If you love bold geometry and quiet luxury, this tower will grab your eye every time.
18. The Brooklyn Tower – Brooklyn, NY – 1,066 ft
Brooklyn’s first supertall is a striking mix of bronze, black, and shimmering panels that seem to ripple. Rising over the landmark Dime Savings Bank, it fuses historic grandeur with a futuristic profile. From Fort Greene to the waterfront, you can spot its crown cutting through the borough’s skyline.
Walk around Downtown Brooklyn and the tower follows you with shifting reflections. Its height redefines what a borough skyline can be, proving tall living is not just a Manhattan thing. If you want a conversation starter, this is it.
17. Salesforce Tower – San Francisco, CA – 1,070 ft
San Francisco’s tallest curls skyward with a rounded glass form that feels soft against the fog. The crown glows at night, turning the skyline into a lantern for the Bay. From the Embarcadero or SoMa, the tower anchors sightlines like a compass needle.
Inside the neighborhood, parks and transit knit around the base, making foot traffic lively. On clear days you can watch the tower pierce the marine layer, a classic San Francisco moment. It is tech era power wrapped in a gentle, modern silhouette.
16. 3 World Trade Center – New York, NY – 1,079 ft
3 WTC stands slender and elegant, with external braces that look like ribbons climbing glass. It completes a powerful trio on the rebuilt site, reflecting resilience as much as design. From the Oculus plaza, the facade mirrors the bustle and light of Lower Manhattan.
Office floors float behind clear curtain walls, giving the tower a transparent, open feeling. The terraces at staggered heights create subtle steps along the edges. You feel the energy of a district that never stops reinventing itself.
15. Wilshire Grand Center – Los Angeles, CA – 1,100 ft
Downtown LA’s crown jewel lifts a sail shaped top above a sleek glass shaft. The spire gives the tower its official height, making it the city’s tallest. From the street, the base welcomes you with hotel bustle, neon accents, and big sky vibes.
The observation spaces and rooftop halo glow when the sun drops behind the hills. It feels cinematic, like a set piece in a thriller. In a low slung city, this tower signals a vertical future for the West Coast.
14. Comcast Technology Center – Philadelphia, PA – 1,121 ft
Philadelphia rises higher with this angular tower that stacks volumes like glass blocks. The notched crown frames a broadcast beacon, adding drama to the skyline. From the Ben Franklin Parkway, it lines up boldly with the city’s cultural spine.
Inside, studios and offices hum with tech forward energy. The lobby’s scale feels grand yet approachable, a modern counterpoint to nearby historic masonry. Philly proves it can soar without losing its gritty charm.
13. 875 North Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Center) – Chicago, IL – 1,127 ft
This Chicago legend wears its X braces proudly, turning structure into style. The tapered form gives top floors sky high views of the lake and skyline. From the Magnificent Mile, it feels both muscular and elegant.
Take the observatory and you will see the grid of Chicago stretch forever. The black steel exterior absorbs light, making the building read as a silhouette at dusk. Few towers balance engineering bravado with everyday city life so well.
12. Aon Center – Chicago, IL – 1,136 ft
Aon Center stands like a minimalist monolith, a clean white shaft among darker neighbors. The vertical lines emphasize height, especially from Millennium Park. It does not shout, it just rises with quiet confidence.
Originally clad in marble, later replaced with granite, its refined look still feels timeless. From the park, reflections ripple across its facade during windy days. It is a lesson in restraint that still dominates the view.
11. St. Regis Chicago – Chicago, IL – 1,198 ft
St. Regis Chicago flows like water with three interconnected, offset towers. Jeanne Gang’s design uses shimmering glass in shifting shades, echoing the lake. From the Riverwalk, the stacked volumes create a graceful cascade.
Inside, hotel and residences share a sculptural skyline address. The curves soften the city’s hard angles, bringing a human touch to supertall living. If you love movement in architecture, this tower delivers it in spades.
10. Bank of America Tower – New York, NY – 1,200 ft
Rising over Bryant Park, this crystalline tower leans into sustainability with smart systems and fresh air strategies. The angled roofline gives Midtown a dynamic profile from every corner. Stand on the lawn and the glass seems to glow green.
Inside, daylight floods deep into the floors, a rare perk for dense Manhattan. It set a benchmark for eco minded skyscrapers long before it was trendy. The building proves green and glamorous can absolutely be the same thing.
9. Empire State Building – New York, NY – 1,250 ft
The Empire State is the classic you dream about when you picture New York. Its setbacks rise like steps to the clouds, pure Art Deco theater. From Fifth Avenue, the limestone base anchors a sense of history and hustle.
Head to the observatories and the city unwraps in every direction. The beacon lights change colors for holidays and moments that matter. Decades later, it still makes hearts race the second you look up.
8. 30 Hudson Yards – New York, NY – 1,296 ft
30 Hudson Yards stakes its claim on the West Side with a sharp, slanted crown. The Edge observation deck juts into open air, daring you to step out. From the High Line, the tower feels like a launchpad for the neighborhood.
Inside, media and finance firms fuel a vertical campus. The mix of parks, shops, and art gives the area a modern city within a city vibe. If you like adrenaline with your views, this is your stop.
7. Trump International Hotel & Tower – Chicago, IL – 1,388 ft
This riverfront tower stacks three setbacks that mirror neighboring heights. Polished stainless steel and glass catch the changing Chicago light. From the bridges, the building frames postcard views along the water.
Hotel and residences share amenities with sweeping skyline panoramas. The curve along the river softens the mass, making the height feel approachable. Love it or not, the tower is undeniably part of Chicago’s modern identity.
6. 432 Park Avenue – New York, NY – 1,396 ft
Ultra slender and unmistakable, 432 Park is a grid turned into a skyscraper. The square windows repeat like a rhythm up the entire shaft. From Central Park South, it appears almost impossibly thin against the sky.
Inside, minimalism rules, with lofty ceilings and framed views. The simplicity is bold, almost provocative in a city of complex silhouettes. It is a vertical statement you either love for purity or question for audacity.
5. One Vanderbilt – New York, NY – 1,401 ft
Next to Grand Central, One Vanderbilt rises with stacked setbacks and a sharpened crown. The lobby opens to transit, so the building ties directly into the city’s pulse. From Bryant Park, the bronze toned mullions catch warm light.
Summit One Vanderbilt offers mirrored thrills and sweeping views. The tower feels both modern and respectful of Midtown’s giants. If you want a fresh take on classic New York vertical drama, this is it.
4. 111 West 57th Street (Steinway Tower) – New York, NY – 1,428 ft
The world’s skinniest supertall turns a slim profile into poetry. Terra cotta and bronze detailing pay homage to Steinway Hall at its base. From Central Park, the needle like form looks almost surreal.
Inside, each residence is a sky perch with limited neighbors. The engineering behind the slenderness is breathtaking, balancing elegance and strength. If you love daring proportions, this tower is a must see on Billionaires Row.
3. Willis Tower – Chicago, IL – 1,451 ft
Formerly Sears Tower, this black bundled tube still muscles the skyline. The stacked shafts climb like a city of towers bound together. From the river or the Loop, it is the north star of Chicago navigation.
Step onto the Skydeck ledges and look straight down if you dare. The building’s presence is both industrial and iconic, a true Midwestern powerhouse. You feel Chicago pride just standing beneath it.
2. Central Park Tower – New York, NY – 1,550 ft
Central Park Tower stretches above Billionaires Row with commanding calm. The blue glass facade shifts tone with the sky, a giant mirror over Midtown. From the park, it appears to hover beyond the treeline.
Retail and residences stack above a sculpted base, while the crown keeps a clean, understated finish. The sheer height is staggering yet the design stays refined. If you want top of the world vibes, this is your north star.
1. One World Trade Center – New York, NY – 1,776 ft
One World Trade Center stands as the nation’s tallest and a symbol of resilience. The prism like form twists subtly as it rises, culminating in a powerful spire. From the memorial pools, the tower reflects remembrance and forward momentum.
Take the observatory and the harbor, bridges, and city grid unfold like a map. The building balances solemnity with confidence, a beacon for Lower Manhattan. It is a place where you look up, breathe, and feel the city’s heartbeat.
