The Chrysler Building, an emblem of Art Deco in New York, is located at the corner of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Constructed between 1929 and 1930, it was the tallest skyscraper in the world until 1931. Commissioned by Senator William H. Reynolds and later acquired by Walter P. Chrysler, the building underwent many modifications to the original design by William Van Alen. Financed with Chrysler's personal funds, it cost 14 million dollars. Its stainless steel spire was a well-kept secret and was assembled in one day in 1929. Despite its brief reign as the tallest skyscraper, the Chrysler Building is an icon of the New York skyline, designated a National Historic Landmark since 1976.
