Daily News Building
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Why it's listed
Rising 36 stories on East 42nd Street in Manhattan, this tower and its attached nine-story printing plant were built in 1929-1930 for the Daily News, then New York's largest newspaper and the country's first successful tabloid. Publisher Joseph Medill Patterson chose Howells and Hood, with the design credited to Raymond Hood alone. The exterior is defined by tall white brick bands alternating with window bays of reddish-brown and black brick, and by zig-zag setbacks on every side. The main entrance has a granite block with a bas-relief of New Yorkers and the building itself, topped by the inscription "THE NEWS." Inside, the lobby centers on a 12-foot revolving globe set in the floor, with a compass and world maps on the walls. Hood's earlier skyscrapers drew on Gothic and eclectic styles, but this was his first fully non-eclectic modern building. A 1959 addition and a later Citibank structure are considered non-contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a major architectural monument, designed by Raymond Hood, and the first modernistic, freestanding skyscraper he designed. It was the home and symbol of America's first tabloid and largest newspaper. Its tapered, stacked massing, bas-relief entrance and popular science lobby are also noted.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001191, listed November 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 E. 42nd St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | November 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001191 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1929-1930) |
| Architect / builder | Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 29, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use for commercial purposes; condition marked excellent, with 1959 and later additions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.74979, -73.97352 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001191.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2070225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.