When the Chrysler Building threw open its doors to the public on May 27, 1930, it claimed a remarkable title: the tallest building on the planet. That crown wouldn't last long — roughly a year later, the Empire State Building surpassed it — but the story of how the Chrysler Building seized that distinction in the first place is a fascinating tale of rivalry. The building had actually been conceived as part of an intense three-way race that also involved the Empire State Building and the Bank of Manhattan Building.
The whole saga kicked off in 1928, when Walter Chrysler, who led the Chrysler Corporation, jumped into a heated contest with the teams behind both the Empire State Building and the Bank of Manhattan Building. The goal was simple: build the tallest structure the world had ever seen. Every team strategized furiously to outdo the others. The Bank of Manhattan Building's builders, upon learning just how high Chrysler intended to reach, actually altered their construction plans mid-build to surpass his tower. And because their project wrapped up ahead of Chrysler's, the Bank of Manhattan Building initially grabbed the coveted "world's tallest building" title.
But Walter Chrysler had anticipated exactly this kind of move — and he'd prepared a cunning counterstrike. Hidden from view during construction, an astonishing 125-foot-tall spire had been secretly assembled inside the building itself. Once the rest of the structure was complete, workers hoisted the spire into place atop the tower, instantly eclipsing the Bank of Manhattan Building and snatching away the world record. Not everyone was impressed, however — critics argued that Chrysler's stealthy spire maneuver was a questionable way to earn the honor. Ultimately, none of it mattered for long. Just about a year later, the Empire State Building rose to completion, towering more than 400 feet above the Chrysler Building and settling the argument once and for all.