10 Most Famous Towers in the USA
The United States of America is the pinnacle of the modern world and the center of Western culture. With the advanced engineering of the 20th century, numerous iconic towers have sprung up across the USA in the centers of its major cities. Skyscrapers were invented in Chicago in the late 19th century and quickly radically transformed Manhattan's skyline.
Manhattan became the heart of modern construction with a dazzling mix of vintage towers such as the Empire State Building, memories of the Twin Towers, and gleaming new giants like One World. Downtown Chicago is also characterized by a massive number of skyscrapers of various kinds, in the downtown area, above the Chicago River, or on the Magnificent Mile.
Every American city boasts several giant towers soaring into the sky, symbolizing the city's character. At the tops of the towers, there are often observation decks that offer a breathtaking view of the city along with the opportunity to deeply experience the tower.
These are the skyscrapers and towers we think you shouldn't miss on a trip to the USA:
- The Empire State Building (New York City) – The most iconic skyscraper in the world
- The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower – Chicago) – The black giant above the Windy City
- The Washington Monument (Washington DC) – The star of official America
- The One World (New York City) – Manhattan’s shining symbol of resilience
- The Gateway Arch (St. Louis) – The unique formation in the heart of America
- The Chrysler Building (New York) – An icon of American industry
- The Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco) – Vintage perfection in Californian architecture
- The Space Needle (Seattle) – The icon of the Northwest
- The John Hancock Tower (Chicago) – The elegant skyscraper above the Magnificent Mile
- The Flatiron Building (New York City) – The architectural masterpiece of urban planning
The list is based on the following criteria:
- The building's importance in the history of American architecture
- The beauty and appearance of the building and its integration into the urban environment
- The presence of the building or tower in popular culture
- Accessibility to the building and the option to climb to a high observation deck
- How much the building is considered a symbol or the symbol of the city
The most famous towers in the USA
1. Empire State Building – New York
The emblem of Manhattan, the ultimate skyscraper of New York with a vintage flair and stunning character. The Empire State Building is the seventh tallest tower in the city today (and its rank might drop in the future) but remains the first among the city's historic skyscrapers. The tower symbolizes America's power since the nation's rise to empire status. It was built in the 1930s as a place of employment during the Great Depression and since then has become a symbol of the American empire and a masterpiece of skyscraper construction in the city. The building is one of the most famous New York icons, including King Kong's spectacular climb on the building in the classic horror film from 1933.
The place to be in the Empire State Building is, of course, the building's famous observation deck at a height of 382 meters above the bay's water. On the way, you stop at the first observation deck on the 86th floor and then take another set of fast elevators to the 102nd floor. From the observation deck, you get an almost ultimate view of Manhattan (except, of course, the building itself).
2. Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) – Chicago
Willis Tower, famously known as the Sears Tower, is one of the most renowned skyscrapers in the world. The building was Chicago's bold answer to the stinging loss to New York in the fierce skyscraper competition between cities at the start of the 20th century. It was built in 1973, two years after the Twin Towers were constructed in Manhattan. Upon its completion, it stripped the title of the tallest building in the world from the magnificent pair in Lower Manhattan and held the record as the tallest tower in the world until 1998.
The building stands at a height of 443 meters and has 110 floors. To this day, it is considered the third tallest building in the USA. Originally, the Sears was built as the headquarters of the local retail giant and was named after it. In 2009, it was purchased by the Willis Group from the UK and its name was changed. The tower is one of the top attractions in Chicago.
The observation deck of the tower, the Skydeck, opened to the public in 1974 and has since become an attraction. It is located on the 103rd floor of the building and offers a stunning panoramic view of the entire Chicagoland area and Lake Michigan.
3. Washington Monument – Washington D.C.
The massive obelisk of the Washington Monument is among the most famous structures in the entire United States. Unlike many monuments on the Mall, the obelisk was an important part of the American capital's appearance in its early period. Construction of the monument began in 1848 and was only completed in 1885. It was designed by architect Robert Mills and was inspired by Egyptian obelisks.
The obelisk rises to a height of 170 meters, and the observation deck is 152 meters high. The observation deck is located where the sharp triangle at the top of the obelisk begins. The monument is clad in white marble, giving it a clean appearance.
Click here for a guided tour of the Mall and the Washington Monument…
4. One World Trade Center or the Freedom Tower – New York City
The Freedom Tower, which some claim is the true memorial to the Twin Towers, is located at the northern corner of the monument, just 15 meters from the pool commemorating the North Tower. The tower stands approximately 541 meters tall (1,776 feet – the year of American independence) and is currently considered the tallest building in the USA and the seventh tallest (as of now) in the world.
The tower was inaugurated in 2014 and successfully fills the terrible void that had been in downtown Manhattan for over 13 years. The tower is the brainchild of Jewish-Polish (and a little bit Israeli) architect Daniel Libeskind. The tower's observation deck has become a very popular place to visit. It is located on floors 100-102 of the tower at a height of 387 meters. From the deck, there's a breathtaking view of the entire metropolis.
Click here to buy an online entry ticket to the One World Observatory…
5. Gateway Arch – St. Louis
Gateway Arch National Park is located on the western (left) bank of the Mississippi River. It marks the location where the Lewis and Clark Expedition began their journey in the early 19th century, symbolizing more than anything the conquest of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast by the United States. The arch is the central attraction of the national park, also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is the most recognized urban national park in the U.S. and the smallest national park by area in the entire U.S.
The Gateway Arch is the icon of St. Louis and one of the most recognized sites in the Midwest. The arch is the tallest structure in the state of Missouri, with a height of 630 feet (192 meters), and the distance between the two legs of the arch on the ground is also 630 feet (192 meters). The arch was built in the early 1960s as the main attraction of the Gateway Arch National Park. It is constructed from stainless steel covering concrete, and within its 71 segments, it houses stairs and elevator shafts.
At the top of the arch, there's an internal observation deck, likely the most popular tourist attraction in Missouri. From the summit of the arch, there's a stunning panoramic view of St. Louis city, the Mississippi River, the Missouri River to the north, and the Great Plains. At the base of the arch, the city's major events take place, including the popular 4th of July fireworks, one of the largest outdoor events in the US to celebrate American Independence Day.
6. Chrysler Building – New York
The Chrysler is one of New York's iconic landmarks and among the world's most famous skyscrapers. The building is named after Walter Percy Chrysler, one of the American industrial giants and head of the car company that bears his name. Chrysler wanted to immortalize himself and his brand in New York, and in 1930 he completed the funding for the construction of the magnificent skyscraper.
The spire at the top of the tower is the signature feature of the skyscraper. The Art Deco style spire, with its stepped semicircles forming a pyramid, is reminiscent of the radiator cap cover on car models. The tower itself is filled with Art Deco designs, all inspired by the world of automobiles, and its entire interior design also draws from the car designs of that era.
Though second to the Empire State Building, it remains one of the most beloved and iconic towers, associated with the golden age of skyscraper construction of the twenties and thirties. The tower is still one of the most beautiful architectural gems in the entire USA. Its height is 282 meters without the spire at the top, and it contains 77 floors.
For a Hudson cruise in the evening and a view of Manhattan's stunning skyline, click here…
7. Transamerica Pyramid – San Francisco
San Francisco's most iconic symbol (excluding the Golden Gate which technically lies on its northern border outside the city limits) is the spectacular Transamerica Pyramid building. Constructed in 1969, it was the tallest tower in the city until the Salesforce Tower was built in South Downtown in 2018. The building stands 260 meters tall. The top floor, the 48th floor, is approximately 212 meters, with an additional 50-meter high concrete spire extending above it.
The Transamerica is crafted in a pointed Gothic pyramid shape, designed by Chicago architect William Pereira. On both sides of the pyramid, leading up to the sharp concrete pinnacle, are two wings housing the elevator shafts. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2021, the observation deck was closed to the public and remains inaccessible to this day.
8. Space Needle – Seattle
The Space Needle is undoubtedly the symbol of Seattle (competing with companies like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, and the classic character Frasier Crane). The tower is mentioned whenever Seattle is discussed, including the view from Frasier's apartment window in the legendary show.
The tower stands 184 meters tall, and upon completion, it was the tallest structure in the western United States. The tower's circular observation deck offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges from a height of 160 meters. It is accessible by elevators that take 41 seconds to reach the top.
Even though today the futuristic look of the Space Needle seems incredibly dated, the character and beauty of the building blend almost perfectly with Seattle's vibe. The tower is much loved by the residents and still attracts a huge number of visitors. At the top of the tower operates a fancy bar/café/restaurant.
Click here to purchase an online ticket for the Space Needle's observation deck…
9. The John Hancock Center – Chicago
The John Hancock Center is the undisputed star (in sleek black) of the Magnificent Mile. It's the big brother (though slightly shorter) of the Sears Tower (Willis Tower). The John Hancock stands at 344 meters with 100 stories. Atop it are two iconic antennas standing over a hundred meters high.
The tower was built in 1969 by the same architectural firm that simultaneously designed the Sears Tower. Briefly upon its completion, it was the tallest building in the world. Today, it is the fifth tallest skyscraper in Chicago, but remains one of the city's most beloved and cherished landmarks.
The observation deck of the tower is located on the 94th floor and is one of the city's favorite attractions. The tower has it all – restaurants, shops, and also plenty of luxury apartments on the upper floors.
10. The Flatiron Building – New York
When the Flatiron was completed in 1902, it briefly held the title of the tallest building in the world. The Flatiron is one of the buildings that symbolize Manhattan's perfect urban planning.
It is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, and its architecture perfectly mimics the unique diagonal path of Broadway and the street's role in breaking up the symmetrical grid layout of Manhattan's streets. The building's structure is of a sharp triangular shape with its very narrow facade facing Madison Square Park.
Click here for a guided tour of the architectural marvels of the Flatiron District…
11. The Twin Towers – New York
The Twin Towers find themselves at the bottom of the list mainly because they no longer stand. These glittering towers, a pinnacle of America's glory and power during the 1970s, collapsed in the barbaric attack on September 11, 2001, claiming the lives of over three thousand individuals, including hundreds of airplane passengers whom Islamist terrorists crashed into their high sections. Completed in 1973, the towers soared to a height of 417 meters across 110 floors. They were considered the second tallest buildings in the USA, after the Sears Tower in Chicago, and the tallest in Manhattan.
On the 107th floor of the South Tower was one of the most famous observation decks in the world. Due to the sleek appearance of glass and metal and the high profile of the location, the twins were perhaps the most famous skyscrapers of their time. To this day, they serve as a memory of old New York and remain present in the fabric of city life. The One World Tower effectively serves as a living monument to the two mighty towers and the horrific trauma of the brutal attack.
