An Opinionated Guide to New York Architecture

From brownstones to skyscrapers, New York’s skyline dazzles. This opinionated guide features 50+ iconic and hidden buildings, perfect for locals and visitors alike

From Brooklyn brownstones to Bauhaus blocks, Art Deco icons to towering skyscrapers – New York’s ever-evolving skyline spans all architectural styles, tracing the history of this modern metropolis. From famous icons like the Flatiron Building to hidden architectural gems, the guide features more than 50 must-see buildings spanning all architectural styles. Whether you’re a seasoned New Yorker or a curious visitor, this is your boldly opinionated guide to the most arresting buildings in The Big Apple.

Includes:

High Line
Lever House
Spring Street Salt Shed
American Museum of Natural History: Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation
Breuer Building
Brooklyn Bridge
Chrysler Building
Empire State Building
Flatiron Building
Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
Grand Central Terminal
Hearst Tower
Lincoln Center
Kings Theatre
New York Public Library: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Oculus
One World Trade Center / National September 11 Memorial & Museum (combined entry)
Park Avenue Armory
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Sylvan Terrace
Tenement Museum
Studio Museum in Harlem
TWA Flight Center
Woolworth Building
Helmsley Building
SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
The Arches of Central Park
Tracey Towers
General Electric Building
Wyckoff House
Statue of Liberty
Trinity Church
Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
Jefferson Market Library
Bayard–Condict Building
Park Slope Historic District
Washington Square Arch
Radio City Music Hall
Seagram Building
Manhattan Municipal Building
American Radiator Building
Chelsea Hotel
Weeksville Heritage Center
High Bridge
Lenox Health Greenwich Village (Joseph Curran Building)
Modulightor Building
Fort Wadsworth: Battery Weed
Rockefeller Center
432 Park Avenue
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
Silver Towers
550 Madison Avenue
Eldridge Street Synagogue
Perelman Performing Arts Center
New Museum
Sugar Hill Development
One Wall Street
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Whitney Museum of American Art
5 Beekman Street
The Morgan Library & Museum
Green-Wood Cemetery: Arch
Hunter's Point Library
Bronx Community College: Gould Memorial Library
Steinway Tower
41 Cooper Square

Allison C. Meier is a Brooklyn-based writer and researcher focused on architecture, visual culture, and overlooked histories. She is the author of Grave (Bloomsbury, 2023), editor of Blue Crow Media’s maps (Great Trees of New York, Art Deco New York), and research associate at the American Folk Art Museum. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, and Smithsonian. She also leads cemetery tours and publishes the NYC Microseasons zine.