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They were selected for their aesthetic quality and historical relevance to the development of urban America and are classified under the following headings: Artists' Conceptions of 19th-Century Cities, Skylines and Streets, City Life, Urban Transportation, The City in Turmoil, and 20th-Century Art Reflecting Urban Themes.
A skyline is like the fingerprint of a city - no two skylines are completely alike. They are shaped by artificial and natural features that rise to create a unique view of the sky as viewed from the ground. The US has hundreds of skylines created by the thousands of skyscrapers that rise in various city with the country. This article looks at the twelve most (subjectively) impressive skylines in the US.
12. Chicago
There's no denying the city of Chicago has one of the best skylines in theworld. The city has five scrapers that rise to more than 1000ft with itstallest building, the Willis Tower, rising to about 1451ft. Although the cityexperienced a rapid growth in the number of towers constructed in the 20thcentury, unlike other cities, it maintained a well-organized skyline thatconsidered as one of its landmarks.
11. New York
The skyline of New York is among the most recognizableskylines in the world. The towers of the city nearly doubles the towers in Chicago. Although the skyline lost its iconic World Trade Center buildings in 2001, it has since bounced back with five more megatalls including the One and Four World Trade Centers.The skyline is said to be most impressive when the city is viewed from New Jersey.
10. Philadelphia
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A glimpse of Philadelphia’s skyline from theInterstate 76 is simply marvelous. The fifth-largest metro in the US boasts ofthe Bell Atlantic Tower, Mellon Bank Center, Comcast Center, and the One and TwoLiberty Place, all of which rise above 700ft. The One Liberty Observation Deckoffers an opportunity for a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the city from the 57thfloor of the tower. The city’s skyline is set to change when the more than 15towers under construction are completed.
9. Boston
Boston is one of America’s oldest cities. It ischaracterized by brick row houses which were popular in the 19th century,narrow streets and old-fashioned gas street lamps. However, when viewed from afar, the maze of charming streets and the stacks of towers clustered inMassachusetts Bay brings an all new charm to the city. At 790ft the JohnHancock Tower is the tallest in the city followed by the Prudential Towerat 749ft. The city’s skyline is viewed best from Charles River where the risingtowers are mirrored by the slow-moving water.
8. Detroit
The city of Detroit is home to Ford, GeneralMotors, and Chrysler and is therefore referred to as the 'MotorCity.' The Detroit Marriottand the One Detroit Center are among the city’s landmarks. Although it may not be the largest skyline in the country, there is something about the organized layout of the city's art deco skyscrapers that makes this skyline a memorable one.
7. Houston
The Houston skyline is characterized by more than 32 towersthat rise above 500ft, 10 of which are more than 700 ft. Unlike in Chicago wherethe tall skyscrapers are crumbled together, the Houston skyline is consideredas both dense and sparse with several tall buildings spread across the city.The JPMorgan Chase Tower and the Wells Fargo Plaza rise to 1,002 and 992 respectivelyare the two tallest towers in the city. The 901-ft Williams Tower in Galleriadistrict is the tallest building outside the CBD.
6. Miami
The Miami skyline is a considered a spectacle mainly becausea large portion of towers is located along the Atlantic coastline. The cityboasts of 28 skyscrapers which rise above 500 ft. Theskyline is largely shaped by the Four Seasons Hotel at 789 ft., the 764ft tallWachovia Financial Center, and the 900 Biscayne Bay and Marquis at 712 and 679ft respectively. The city continues to grow, and the skyline is expected tochange as several buildings are being constructed including the 822-ft tallPanorama Tower and the 990-ft tower named Sky Rise Miami.
5. Los Angeles
The skyline of Los Angeles is characterized by dense andclustered towers located in the city's downtown. The city is home toseventy-nine towers which are more than 550 ft. in length, but only eight are over700ft. The US BankTower is the tallest building in the skyline standing 1,018 ft above theground, Aon Center is the second tallest building at 858 feet. The Wilshire Grand Tower isstill under construction and is set for completion at the end of 2017, oncecompleted the tower will the tallest building with a height of 1,250 feet.
4. Seattle
The Seattle skyline is among the most distinctive in theUnited States. It is characterized by architectural towers located in steephill, a space-age national landmark; the Space Needle, and Mount Rainier in therear. The Columbia Center is the city’s tallest building at937ft and the 24th tallest building in the country. By 2025 theskyline is expected to change thoroughly when the more than 58 towers underconstruction are completed.
3. San Francisco
The eclectic architecture, stunning waterfront setting, andthe rolling hills make the city of San Francisco one of the most excitingplaces to visit in the US. Its skyline is characterized by one of America'smost notable landmark - the Golden Gate bridge. The 1070ft tall Salesforce Toweris the tallest building in the city's skyline. The Transamerica Pyramid is thecity’s landmark and the second tallest building at 853ft tall.
2. Denver
Just like many other cities in the US in the 1970s and 80s,Denver’s CDB and adjacent neighborhoods contained several open parking lots.The efforts to develop these parking lots were successful, and severalhigh-rise building rose to form the city’s skyline. The Republican Plaza andthe 1801 California Street buildings are the two tallest towers at 714 and709ft respectively.
1. St. Louis
The Gateway Arch is the most recognized structure in StLouis, Missouri. It is both a regional and national landmark. It is the tallest structurein St Louis' skyline at 630 ft above the ground, while the One MetropolitanSquare is the tallest habitable building. How to use photoshop 2018. The skyline is defined by a clusterof buildings west of the Arch and the Mississippi River.
The skyline of New York is one of the most recognizable in the world. Other cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston also have impressive skylines that have awed and inspired visitors from around the world.
By Victor Kiprop
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