The Woolworth Building, an iconic 100-year-old New York City landmark, is now open for public tours. Located at 233 Broadway, this architectural marvel was completed in 1913 and stood as the tallest building in the world at 792 feet. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert, the building features an advanced steel frame structure, high-speed elevators, self-sustaining power generation, heating, cooling, water supply, and fire protection. The grand lobby is known for its stunning stained glass, Byzantine mosaics, sculptures, and murals, and has been admired by architectural enthusiasts and visitors worldwide, thanks in part to the dedication of Gilbert’s great-grandchildren, Helen Post-Curry and Chuck Post.
The Woolworth Building, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and a New York City Landmark in 1983, introduced public tours of its lobby in the summer of 2013. After being closed to the public for many years due to security and office traffic, the lobby’s Gothic exterior and Romanesque cathedral-style interior with a magnificent marble staircase once again draw visitors. Commissioned by Frank W. Woolworth, the building features whimsical carved stone caricatures of key figures like Gilbert, engineer Gunvald Aus, and Woolworth himself, which add a touch of humor and pride.
Tours are available in 30, 60, and 90-minute durations. The 30-minute tour offers a glimpse into the building’s lobby, discussing its key elements like the terracotta exterior, grand marble staircase, and glass mosaic ceiling, along with corbels depicting Frank Woolworth and Cass Gilbert. Visitors can take photographs and ask questions during the tour.
The 60-minute tour delves deeper into the Woolworth Building’s significance, covering its construction, historical role in the development of skyscrapers, and background information about Frank Woolworth and Cass Gilbert. It also includes access to previously restricted areas of the lobby.
Two distinct 90-minute tours are led by different guides, each focusing on unique aspects of the building. One tour, led by historian Anthony W. Robins, includes a detailed look at the exterior, an in-depth discussion of the lobby’s ornamentation, hidden corners, staircases, and a special visit to the mezzanine level. It also explores Cass Gilbert’s first New York skyscraper, the Broadway-Chambers Building, and his impact on future skyscraper designs.
The other 90-minute tour, led by architectural historian Barbara Christen, highlights New York’s evolving urban identity through the Woolworth Building’s grand civic space. It includes views from the mezzanine, an examination of original sculptural grotesques, and discussions on the building’s historical context, construction, and original transit connections and luxury amenities.
For more information or to book a tour, visit the Woolworth Tours website.