William Van Alen hid a 185-foot steel spire inside the Chrysler Building's own crown, assembled in secret. His rival H. Craig Severance had designed 40 Wall Street two feet taller - thinking he'd win. Van Alen raised the hidden spire through the roof in 90 minutes on October 23, 1929. The Chrysler Building jumped to 1,046 feet, the first skyscraper to top 1,000 feet. It held the record for 11 months.
The 90-Minute Trick That Won the Skyscraper Race
On October 23, 1929 - one day before the stock market crashed - a 27-ton steel spire rose from the roof of an unfinished skyscraper on 42nd Street. Nobody outside the construction crew knew it was coming. That was exactly the point.
The Rivalry That Built a Landmark
Architects William Van Alen and H. Craig Severance had once been partners. By 1929, they were racing each other to the sky. Van Alen was designing the Chrysler Building in Midtown Manhattan for auto tycoon Walter Chrysler. Severance was designing the Bank of Manhattan Company Building at 40 Wall Street, downtown. Each time one side raised their planned height, the other countered. The competition became personal - their 1924 partnership had ended badly.
Designed Two Feet Taller on Purpose
By April 1929, Severance had raised 40 Wall Street's planned height to 927 feet - two feet above the Chrysler's announced design. He believed that was enough to claim the title. What he did not know was that Van Alen had never shown his full hand.
The Secret Inside the Crown
Van Alen had a 185-foot stainless-steel spire fabricated in five sections off-site, then quietly delivered to the construction site and assembled inside the Chrysler Building's domed crown. Hidden from view and from Severance's knowledge, it sat waiting as floors rose around it.
Ninety Minutes to the Record
On October 23, 1929, Van Alen made his move. Workers hoisted the hidden spire sections up through the Chrysler Building's roof. The full 27-ton spire was bolted into place in approximately 90 minutes. The building's height jumped to 1,046 feet - not only the tallest building in the world, but the first skyscraper ever to break the 1,000-foot barrier. When 40 Wall Street topped out in November 1929 at 927 feet, it was already 119 feet short.
The Shortest Reign
The record lasted just 11 months. The Empire State Building surpassed the Chrysler on May 1, 1931. Van Alen never built another major structure. But the Chrysler Building - its Art Deco crown and stainless-steel spire gleaming over Midtown - became one of the most beloved skyscrapers ever built. It still stands today, one of the defining shapes of the New York City skyline.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Verified Fact
Verified Jun 15, 2026 · 6 sources checked
Source: WikipediaShow verification details
Claims checked
- Spire assembled secretly inside building (frame/dome area)
- Spire height 185 feet
- Raised through the roof October 23 1929
- 90 minutes
- Rival H. Craig Severance / 40 Wall Street
- Severance designed 40 Wall Street 2 feet taller (927 vs announced 925)
- Building reached 1,046 feet
- First SKYSCRAPER (not man-made structure) to top 1,000 feet
- Empire State Building took the title
- Van Alen never built another major structure
- Severance applied for lantern + 50-foot flagpole permit
- Chrysler beat 40 Wall by 119 feet