The Woolworth Building in lower Manhattan has a perfect nickname: The Cathedral of Commerce.
I was standing on the approach of the pedestrian walkway to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan when I took this photo of the "Cathedral of Commerce." The spire of One World Trade Center is in the background. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
The nickname reflects the skyscraper's architecture, which in part resembles the Gothic cathedrals of Old Europe, and that it was built by Frank Woolworth, who became one of America’s wealthiest men after he originated a five- and ten-cents retail business and opened hundreds of stores nationwide and overseas.
A close up of the Gothic-like pinnacle of the building, taken from City Hall Park. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
The Woolworth Building standing among its neighbors on Broadway, looking south. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
The steel and terra-cotta building that rises 792 feet and 57 floors was built in 1913 and was the world’s tallest building until it was eclipsed it in height in 1930, briefly by 40 Wall Street and then by the Chrysler Building.
The skyscraper's copper-domed cupola as seen from Broadway looking north. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
The Woolworth Building appears to be located next to 8 Spruce Street from Brooklyn Bridge Park. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
As to the accompanying photos, I took most of them last year, when the Skyscraper Museum in Manhattan held an exhibit on the Woolworth Building as part of a centennial celebration of the structure.
The 57-story building as seen from City Hall Park. ({Photo: Joseph Kellard)
I snapped the photos at different times of day and at various vantage points: City Hall Park, Broadway (south and north of the building), Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the pedestrian approach to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan.
Sun sets on the "Cathedral of Commerce." This photos was taken from Brooklyn Bridge Park. (Photo: Joseph Kellard)
Photos: Joseph Kellard