VIBE

When it was built in 1902, locals were convinced that this elegant Beaux-Arts-styled building would topple because of its "dizzying" height (at 22 stories, it was one of the tallest in town) and its unorthodox triangular shape. Fortunately for a phalanx of concerned safety officers and for fans of turn-of-the-century architecture, the Flatiron has remained solidly anchored at the crisscross intersection of 22nd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway for over a century now. Its ultra-photogenic form helped boost the careers of 20th century photographers like Steiglitz, and any image of the Flatiron building is now shorthand for New York.

GO HERE WITH

Architecture buffs; photographers

WHY WE LIKE IT

The façade is truly lovely–it makes for a classic NYC photo op.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Because it’s a functioning office tower, you can’t tour the building.

GOOD TO KNOW

The fetching white terracotta façade of the building was fully restored in 1991. These days, tenants of the building include publishing house Macmillan, but there are plans to convert it to a boutique hotel.

CLOSEST COMPS

Chrysler Building (New York); Empire State Building (New York); Grand Central Terminal (New York)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.