The skyscraper is an American invention that has captured the public's imagination for over a century. The tall building is wholly manmade and borne in the minds of those with both slide rules and computers. This is the story of the skyscraper's rise and the recognition of those individuals who contributed to its development. This volume is unique; its approach, information, and images are fresh and telling. The text examines America's first tall buildings the result of twelve years of indepth research by an accomplished and published architect and architectural historian. Over 300 compelling photographs, charts, and notes make this the ultimate tool of reference for this subject. Biographies woven throughout with period norms, politics and lifestyles help to place featured skyscrapers in context. Quite simply, there is no book like this. The text, carefully and insightfully written, is clear, concise, and easily digestible, the text being the product of welldocumented original research written in an informative tone. The American Skyscraper 18501940 A Celebration of Height is a richly documented journey of a fascinating topic, and it promises to be a superb addition to libraries, schools of architecture, students of architecture, and lovers of art. Includes bibliographical references and index Dedication -- Acknowledgments -- List of images -- introduction -- Ch. 1. Courageous beginnings, 1850-1874. Commerce princes and tall palaces ; Passenger elevators arrive -- Ch. 2. Continued experimentation, 1875-1889. Financial districts form : Wall Street reigns ; Iron and steel -- Ch. 3. The gilded age and the new aristocrats,1890-1899. Skyline : symbol of wealth, romance of height ; How the skyscraper worked -- Ch. 4. Steel pens and steel pins 1900-1919. Public embraces tall novelties ; Long hours and tough guys --Ch. 5. Eclecticism and the roaring twenties 1920-1929. Last of the romantics? -- Ch. 6. The gift of art deco 1930-1940. The skyscraper matures -- Ch. 7. Skyscrapers and the small town. Tall ones in short places : sketches -- Notes -- Statistics -- Bibliography -- Index