Lost American Buildings

[Sandstein]

Hello,

I noticed that too many beautiful buildings were demolished in America.

So I thought that we could collect some of these buildings.

At first, the "Singer Building" (1908) in New York City:









"Pennsylvania Station" (1910) in New York City:

[ThatOneGuy]

The late Morrison Hotel is nicer than Singer, in my opinion.

[photolitherland]

The anhilation of Penn Station is what sparked the modern day preservation movement in America. Unfortunately it getting destroyed actually saved a lot more of NYC and around America from the wrecking ball.

[Sandstein]

Another example is the "Richfield Tower" (1928-1929) in Los Angeles:



http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/c...s/012408pv.jpg



http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1...ldlettersg.jpg



http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/c...s/012404pv.jpg

It was replaced by these dull blocks in 1970:

[cameronpaul]

Originally Posted by photolitherland

The anhilation of Penn Station is what sparked the modern day preservation movement in America. Unfortunately it getting destroyed actually saved a lot more of NYC and around America from the wrecking ball.

You are right, but what a price to pay!! The New York Times ran a campaign to save this priceless building but the order of the day was anything modern has to be better, as a result look what we got! (The new Madison Sq. Garden bld., about as bland as can be imagined) I love that art-deco building in L.A. pity it had to go for some non descript glass boxes that could be anywhere.

[CNB30]

Broad Street Station Philly

[ThatOneGuy]

No offense but the City National Plaza towers are beautiful, and nicer than the old building, IMO.

Do the Twin Towers count as lost buildings? Or are you only talking about voluntarily demolished ones?

[Sandstein]

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

Do the Twin Towers count as lost buildings?

Yes, I think so.

Or are you only talking about voluntarily demolished ones?

This is due to the fact that most of the old American buildings were demolished and not destroyed in wars.

[CNB30]

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

No offense but the City National Plaza towers are beautiful, and nicer than the old building, IMO.

its still beautiful for art deco

and how can anything be uglier than a glass box

[Sandstein]

The "Chicago Federal Building" (1898-1905):





It was demolished in 1965 and replaced by the "Kluczynski Federal Building".

[CNB30]

early 5th avenue

[CF221]

O.O.... what a loss.....

[JohnnyMass]

Vanderbilt mansions on the left.

As for the Chicago Federal Building, it still amazes me how such beautiful and imposing buildings could ever have been demolished...

[Union.SLO]

Gillender Building, NYC (Wall St./Nassau St. corner), completed in 1896 and demolished already in 1910.

Photo dates in 1900.

from shorpy.com

[Union.SLO]

And its neighbor for a short period, Hanover Bank Building (built 1903, demolished 1931).


from manhattanlifeinsurancebuilding.blogspot.com

[UnHavrais]

All this buildings are so beautifull !

[Sandstein]

The "Masonic Temple" in Chicago (1891-1892):



It was demolished in 1939.

[soup or man]

LA County Courthouse.

image hosted on flickr



The building next to the Courthouse was the Hall of Records.



They were attached.


Here is a shot of City Hall from between the Courthouse and Hall of Records.
image hosted on flickr



The building was always at an odd angle because it followed the old street grid. You can see it on this map from 1954.


And since we are on the Civic Center, here is the old State Building which was destroyed in 1978 due to it being damaged from the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. This picture shows the State Building on the left and the Hall of Records and it's odd angle.


State Building





Interestingly, the foundation of the State Building is still there. You can even see the floor of the lobby in this picture.
image hosted on flickr

[the spliff fairy]

^why on earth was it torn down?

[soup or man]

Damage from the 1971 Sylmar quake.