Tower Life Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tower Life Building
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Smith–Young Tower
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 Tower Life
Location in Texas
Tower Life
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1927-1929 |
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| Architect | Ayres–Ayres |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001682 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1991 |
The Tower Life Building is a famous and old building in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. It is a very tall skyscraper that has been an important part of the city's skyline for many years. This building is known for its unique design and interesting history.
Contents
Building a Landmark
Work on the Tower Life Building started in 1927. It was finished in 1929. The building stands 404 feet (123 meters) tall. It has 31 floors. When it first opened, it was called the Smith-Young Tower.
The building was meant to be part of a bigger project. This project was called the Bowen Island Skyscrapers. The Tower Life Building was the main part of this plan.
Design and Features
The building was designed by a local architecture firm. This firm was called Ayres & Ayres. It was run by Atlee and Robert M. Ayres.
The Tower Life Building has eight sides. It is built in a style called "neo-gothic." This style looks like old churches and castles. The building uses brick and green terra-cotta. Terra-cotta is a type of baked clay. You can even see gargoyles on the building!
The lowest six floors of the building had a Sears, Roebuck and Company store. This was San Antonio's first Sears store.
Unfinished Plans
Another building in the Bowen Island Skyscrapers project was completed. This was the Plaza Hotel. It also opened in 1927 and was designed by Ayres & Ayres.
Later, in 1956, the Plaza Hotel became a Hilton Hotel. In 1966, it was changed into apartments called the Granada Apartments.
The rest of the buildings planned for the project were never built. This was because of the Great Depression. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 caused many money problems. This made it impossible to build more skyscrapers.
Changes Over Time
The building's name has changed a few times. In the 1940s, it was renamed the Transit Tower. This happened because the Smith brothers bought the San Antonio Transit Company in 1943.
In 1953, a television tower was added to the top of the building. This tower helped broadcast TV signals.
A New Look
In 2010, the building was updated. The old television tower was removed. The building was returned to its original design.
Now, the top of the tower has a copper "tophouse." It also has a tall flagpole. This flagpole is 100 feet tall.
The building is now named after its current owner. This is the Tower Life Insurance Company.
In 1991, the Tower Life Building was added to a special list. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Images for kids
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The Tower Life Building as viewed from the River Walk
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The building is seen in the background to the right, behind the San Fernando Cathedral.
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Viewed from the top of the Tower of the Americas in 2003.
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See also
In Spanish: Tower Life Building para niños
