From the Empire State Building to the World Trade Center and beyond, some of the world’s most well-recognized buildings have acquired their fame with their skyscraping qualities. Since the 1930's, the record height for a skyscraper has jumped almost 1,500 feet.
Since then, have you wondered what skyscraper has topped the world's skylines during the year you were born? Find out below, based on the highest architectural element (a.k.a., antennae and spindles included).
All information was gathered from Emporis's history of the world's tallest skyscrapers.
From 1931-1972, the Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in the world.
At 102 stories, the 1,250-foot Empire State Building was not only a landmark in Manhattan but the tallest skyscraper in the world.
New York City remained home to the tallest skyscraper when the World Trade Center was completed in 1972.
One World Trade was the tallest of the original seven buildings in the complex at 1,368 feet.
Chicago’s Willis Tower, then known as the Sears Tower, became the tallest in 1974.
Chicago’s skyline hosted the world’s tallest skyscraper — 1,450 feet — for almost 25 years. After its worldwide reign, it remained the tallest in the Western Hemisphere until the new One World Trade building was built in 2014.
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