Tiffany and Company Building facts for kids
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Tiffany and Company Building
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| Location | 401 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Stanford White of McKim, Mead, and White |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001886 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | June 2, 1978 |
The Tiffany and Company Building is a very old and important building in New York City. It stands at 401 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. This building was finished in 1905. It was built for Tiffany and Company, a famous jewelry store.
Tiffany used this building as its main office until 1940. A famous architect named Stanford White designed it. He was part of the firm McKim, Mead, and White. The building's look was inspired by an old palace in Venice, Italy, called the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca. In 1978, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. This shows how important it is because of its connection to Tiffany, a world-famous jewelry company.
What the Building Looks Like
The old Tiffany and Company Building is in Midtown Manhattan. You can find it at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 37th Street. It is a tall building with seven floors. The outside is made of strong materials like iron, marble, and terra cotta.
Even though it has seven floors, the outside makes it look like it only has three. This is because of the very tall windows. The bottom part of the building has square columns. These columns go up to a decorative ledge. The middle parts of the building have round columns. These also go up to a decorative ledge. The very top columns reach the roof's edge.
Most of the inside of the building has changed over the years. Only a few parts of its original fancy design remain on the top floor. The old Tiffany vault is still in the basement.
Building History
Tiffany and Company started in 1837. It was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young. By the time of the American Civil War, Tiffany was one of the top jewelry makers in the country. In 1868, the company built its main office at Union Square, Manhattan. But by the late 1800s, they needed a bigger space.
Charles Lewis Tiffany wanted a new building. He hired the design firm McKim, Mead, and White. However, he passed away in 1902 before the plans were ready. His replacement, Charles T. Cook, reportedly told the architects to "build me a palace."
The design they came up with was almost a copy of the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca. This palace was designed in Venice, Italy, in 1559. The new Tiffany building cost $600,000 to build. The land it was built on cost $2 million. This was the highest price ever paid for a piece of land in Manhattan at that time. Tiffany used this building until 1940. Then, they moved to a new location on 57th Street.
Today, a TD Bank branch is on the ground floor. Some TV shows have also filmed scenes inside the building. These include The People's Court and The Chris Gethard Show.
Images for kids
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A view of the Tiffany and Company Building from the corner of 37th Street and Fifth Avenue.
See also
In Spanish: Tiffany and Company Building para niños
