Flatiron Building
Also known as: Fuller Building
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Why it's listed
Rising twenty-one stories at the meeting of Fifth Avenue, Broadway and 23rd Street, this Manhattan office tower fills a triangular lot on the southwest corner of Madison Square. Completed in 1902 and originally called the Fuller Building after the Fuller Construction Company that financed and built it, it was designed by D.H. Burnham & Co. Its steel skeleton is sheathed in limestone, terra cotta and brick, and its facades follow a base, shaft and capital arrangement, with ornate oriel windows and a stone balustrade at the top. The narrow northern end, with rounded corners, gives the impression of a ship's prow. Daniel Burnham, who helped shape the modern skyscraper in Chicago, was its architect. Early critics nicknamed it "Burnham's Folly," yet it became one of the most talked-about skyscrapers of its time and appeared in many paintings, postcards and souvenirs. The exterior remains largely original, while the interior has been fully modernized.
Significance in brief: It is an important early example of a steel-framed skyscraper built on an unusual triangular site, with a prow-like northern end that gives an impression of slenderness and height. It is tied to Daniel Burnham, a Chicago architect who helped develop the skyscraper form. It captured public imagination and was widely depicted in art and souvenirs of the period.
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 79001603, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5th Ave. and Broadway St, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001603 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | D.H. Burnham & Co. |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 29, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in excellent condition and largely original; interior completely remodeled; occupied commercial office use with retail on lower floors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74112, -73.98961 (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 79001603.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q220728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.