New York Life Building
51 Madison Ave., New York, New York
Photo
New York Life Building from the Empire State Building
Photo taken by Michael Miller in October 2012
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Map
Coordinates:
+40.74303, -73.9863640°44'35" N, 73°59'11" W
Quadrangle map:Brooklyn
Description
The New York Life Insurance Company, founded in 1841 as the Nautilus Insurance Company, has played a major role in the development of life insurance policies and practices. One of the nation's most innovative insurance firms, it was the first to establish a branch office system and pioneered a widely copied actuarial method of insuring individuals based on medical studies. In 1928 the firm moved to this 34-story skyscraper designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert. Its Gothic lines and prominent pyramidal tower sheathed in gold leaf make it a prominent architectural presence in midtown Manhattan. -- National Historic Landmark statement of significance, June 2, 1978
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1978
- Reference number
- 78001876
- Architectural styles
- Late 19th and 20th Century Revival: Late Gothic Revival; Other architectural type; American Perpendicular Gothi
- Area of significance
- Commerce
- Level of significance
- National
- Evaluation criteria
- A - Event
- Property type
- Building
- Historic function
- Professional
- Current function
- Professional
- Period of significance
- 1925-1949
- Significant year
- 1928
Update Log
- March 2, 2018: New Street View added by Brian Bartlett
- July 21, 2014: New photo from Michael Miller