20th-century marvels
Architecture in the Jazz Age: 10 Art Deco buildings that shaped America
Image: Kit Suman
Characterized by sleek lines, geometric shapes, and luxurious materials, the Art Deco style was a favorite among American architects during the 1920s and 1930s. They designed opulent skyscrapers and glamorous buildings that celebrated progress and modernity. Join us to learn more about this Jazz Age style, explore its fascinating history, and tour 10 of the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in the United States.
1
Empire State Building, New York City
Image: William Wachter
Undoubtedly, the Empire State is the most famous building in New York City. Every year, about 2.5 million people visit it, and it has been featured in countless movies and TV shows. Designed by American architect William F. Lamb, it was inaugurated in 1931.
For forty-one years, the Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in the world. The symmetry, limestone façade, huge windows, and the monumental and luxurious lobby are some of its main features. The design of this Art Deco masterpiece is so spectacular and breathtaking that in 1986 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
2
The Carlyle, Miami Beach
Image: Luis Erives
Miami has the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world. The city has a remarkable collection of around 800 structures built in this style. Visiting the Art Deco district along Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive, and Washington Avenue is like traveling back in time. And perhaps the Carlyle, for its sophisticated combination of horizontals and verticals, is one of the most emblematic.
It was built in 1939 by German-American architect Richard Kiehnel, and its façade has barely changed since then. Its interior, on the other hand, went from hotel rooms to apartments.
3
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa
Image: Quang Vuong
The Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of the few examples of an Art Deco church. Beginning in the 1920s, little Tulsa became the oil capital of the U.S., and the sudden influx of resources encouraged investors to build increasingly grandiose buildings. Thus, this church is considered the first ecclesiastical building strictly designed for an emerging automobile culture.
Constructed from Indiana limestone, the church features a steel-frame tower topped with a copper and glass lantern. A seven-pointed star symbolizes seven virtues: patience, purity, knowledge, suffering, kindness, love, and truth. The complex also includes a sanctuary, a small chapel, and offices, while the lobby serves as a social center.
4
Union Terminal, Cincinnati
Image: Fred Copley
Cincinnati Union Terminal in Ohio is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. Its green terrazzo floors, fine-grained Indiana limestone façade, and vast rotunda adorned with industrial murals by Winold Reiss make the station a true architectural masterpiece. In fact, it is considered the pinnacle work of Alfred T. Fellheimer, who had previously designed Grand Central Terminal in New York.
Unfortunately, Union Terminal began construction in 1928, during one of the worst periods in the country's economic history. The Great Depression was marked by a decline in train travel, and the opulent Union Terminal was considered a white elephant. In 1972, it was finally closed. Years later, however, the building regained its former luster. Today, it is served by Amtrak’s Cardinal line, while the rest of the complex houses several museums.
5
Carbide & Carbon Building, Chicago
Image: Anthony Fomin
The Carbide & Carbon Building, a 37-story skyscraper completed in 1929, is one of Chicago's most striking architectural achievements. A bold example of Art Deco design , the building is clad in black granite and green terra cotta, with genuine gold leaf adorning its tower.
It is so luxurious that the Burnham Brothers architectural firm is said to have designed it to resemble a champagne bottle. In 1996, it was designated a Chicago Landmark, and in 2021, it was renovated and reopened as the Pendry Chicago Hotel.
6
The Guardian Building, Detroit
Image: G + L
This 43-story Art Deco skyscraper is located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance , it was planned by architect Wirt C. Rowland and completed in 1929. Both the interior and exterior feature numerous modern decorative elements, including mosaics, murals, stained glass, and even a historic Tiffany clock.
Forty craftsmen worked on its design and construction, which required granite, stone, terra cotta, and more than two million distinctive "Union Guardian Orange" bricks. In 1989, the Guardian Building was designated a National Historic Landmark.
7
Chrysler Building, New York City
Image: William Wachter
The Chrysler Building in New York City is one of the greatest examples of the Art Deco style in the world. It was designed by architect William Van Alen at the request of industrial magnate Walter Percy Chrysler and completed in 1930.
The building exhibits great attention to detail, featuring many elements that mimic Chrysler automobile pieces, such as the ostentatious ornamentation of the tower. In the lobby, the ceiling mural—once the largest in the United States—was painted by artist Edward Trumbull. Following the building’s automotive theme, it depicts scenes of progress, transportation, and energy.
8
Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles
Image: Jordan Rubin
Located in downtown Los Angeles, this emblematic 1930s building features a striking turquoise terra cotta exterior. The Eastern Columbia Building was designed by renowned architect Claud Beelman, who also created several of the city’s notable Art Deco structures. At the time of its construction, the building was so unique that the city allowed it to exceed the maximum height limit.
Its unique color, majestic vertical lines, iconic clock, and golden ornamentation attracted Hollywood moguls and stars from the beginning. It was first used as office space and was later converted into luxury apartments. In 1985, the Eastern Columbia Building was declared a Historic-Cultural Monument.
9
Circle Tower, Indianapolis
Image: Alejandro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The construction of a 14-story skyscraper in Indianapolis was a major news event in the early 20th century. "Circle Tower Is Rising," declared the Indianapolis Times in 1929. Circle Tower stands as a magnificent example of Art Deco architecture.
Built of ornately carved granite and limestone and decorated with Egyptian figures, Circle Tower has a unique, trapezoidal shape. This unusual silhouette was promoted as an icon of luxurious office space. The interior, on the other hand, features marble and terrazzo floors, bronze elevator doors, geometric flowers, zigzags, and concentric swirls. Details in the lavishly marble-clad lobby exude elegance.
10
Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles
Image: David Vives
The Griffith Observatory is one of Los Angeles’ most important cultural attractions. This Art Deco icon opened in 1935 and was designed with a revolutionary idea in mind: the cosmos should be accessible to everyone, not just astronomers.
Built of reinforced concrete on a 3,015-acre site donated by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, it is a blend of modern design and Greek and Beaux-Arts influences. The building's most emblematic feature? The planetarium in the central dome!
