The invention of the skyscraper changed city skylines forever. The first was completed in Chicago in 1885 by William LeBaron Jenney, though that building is long gone. Still, many remarkable high-rises from the late 19th century remain, standing proudly as reminders of the birth of vertical architecture. Most of these early towers are found in major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco.
10. Ames Building
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Completed: 1893
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Location: Boston, Massachusetts
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Height: 196 ft (60 m)
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Floors: 14
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Architects: Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge
Boston’s first true skyscraper, the Ames Building, held the title of the city’s tallest structure until 1915. Named after Frederick L. Ames, a wealthy railroad heir, its exterior was finished in 1889 though interiors took until 1893. Once home to the Ames family’s tool company, it later transformed into a luxury hotel. Fun fact: it remains the tallest masonry structure ever built in the U.S.
9. Manhattan Building
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Completed: 1891
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Height: 170 ft (52 m)
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Floors: 16
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Architect: William LeBaron Jenney
Designed by the “Father of the Skyscraper,” this 16-story tower was revolutionary for its skeletal steel structure. It remains the oldest surviving skyscraper of its kind worldwide. The Manhattan Building has always been used as office space and was declared a Chicago Landmark in 1978.
8. Old Chronicle Building
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Completed: 1889
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Location: San Francisco, California
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Height: 218 ft (66 m) originally; 312 ft (95 m) today
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Floors: 10 originally; 24 today
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Architects: Burnham and Root
Commissioned by the De Young brothers for the San Francisco Chronicle, this was the West Coast’s first skyscraper. Although it survived the 1906 earthquake, its interiors had to be rebuilt. Today, the building operates as the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences after extensive renovations and additional stories.
7. New York Times Building (41 Park Row)
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Completed: 1889
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Location: Manhattan, New York
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Height: 212 ft (65 m)
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Floors: 16
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Architect: George B. Post
Once the headquarters of The New York Times until 1903, this Romanesque Revival landmark was later expanded from 13 to 16 stories. Now owned by Pace University, it’s the oldest survivor of “Newspaper Row,” the district where several major papers once clustered.
6. Wilder Building
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Completed: 1888
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Location: Rochester, New York
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Floors: 11
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Architects: Warner & Brockett
Commissioned by banker Samuel Wilder, this was Rochester’s first high-rise. It originally featured spires on its corners, later removed. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it also houses the oldest surviving mail chute system—an innovation for sending letters within tall buildings.
5. Rookery Building
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Completed: 1888
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Height: 181 ft (55 m)
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Floors: 12
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Architects: Burnham and Root
An icon of Chicago’s Loop, the Rookery was both a design masterpiece and the architects’ own headquarters. Its lobby was reimagined in 1905 by Frank Lloyd Wright with marble and intricate ornamentation. Today, it is also the oldest LEED-certified skyscraper on the planet.
4. Sun Building
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Completed: 1887
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Location: Washington, D.C.
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Height: 116 ft (35.4 m)
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Floors: 9 plus a mezzanine
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Architect: Alfred B. Mullett
Built for the Baltimore Sun’s Washington bureau, this steel-framed structure was D.C.’s tallest when completed. It also introduced passenger elevators to the city. Over the decades, it hosted law firms, government offices, and even the FBI.
3. Osborne Apartments
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Completed: 1885
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Location: Manhattan, New York
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Height: 162 ft (49 m)
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Floors: 11–15
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Architect: James Edward Ware
Commissioned by Thomas Osborne, this luxury apartment block has attracted musicians and actors thanks to its location near Carnegie Hall. An annex was added in 1906, and in 1991 the building was officially named a New York City landmark.
2. Hotel Chelsea
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Completed: 1884
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Location: Manhattan, New York
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Height: 144 ft (44 m)
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Floors: 12
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Architects: Hubert, Pirrson & Company
Perhaps the most legendary building on this list, Hotel Chelsea became a haven for artists and writers, hosting names like Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Tennessee Williams. Built in a blend of Queen Anne Revival and Victorian Gothic, it remains one of New York’s cultural icons.
1. Temple Court Building (5 Beekman Street)
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Completed: 1883
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Location: Manhattan, New York
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Height: 150 ft (46 m)
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Floors: 10
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Architects: Benjamin Silliman Jr. and James M. Farnsworth
The oldest surviving skyscraper worldwide, Temple Court was constructed as offices for lawyers. In 1890, an annex was added, and today it forms part of the Beekman Hotel and Residences, a vibrant complex blending old and new architecture.
Conclusion
These early giants may look modest compared to today’s glass towers, but they were once symbols of cutting-edge innovation. From Boston to San Francisco, they introduced steel frames, elevators, and new ways of living in the sky. More than a century later, they continue to stand tall as architectural pioneers that shaped the modern cityscape.
