Then and Now : A story of the 7 Great Buildings That America Lost

A brick and mortar structure brings a sense of nostalgia and longing to anyone viewing them. What exactly is the reason why we are fascinated by these structures? Maybe it is the familiarity and the rich history behind them that draw us in. America would definitely have a different culture had its iconic buildings existed. When great buildings of America, like the pre-modernist railway mansion of Mark Hopkins or the original Penn Station in NYC, were demolished, some sparkle in American culture was lost.
We won’t get to see how America would have developed had the 1906 earthquake didn’t shake it except in images.

Penn Station

The original Penn Station of New York was the inspiration for the historic preservation movement. Realized in 1910 from the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, this Beaux-Art structure was a beauty in its time. Now the classical grandeur looks too preposterous amongst the modern structures of the city. The building met its end and got demolished, to the dismay of many, when the costs skyrocketed and the city authorities grew tired of maintaining it.

Singer Building

The Singer building was once the tallest building in the world. Built-in 1908 at the Liberty Street and Broadway, this still holds one “tallest” record – tallest building to have been purposefully demolished. The awkward office floor plan design of the building – which made it difficult to be used in the present day – led to its demise. One Liberty Plaza now occupies the site.

Midway Gardens

For an architecture buff, it might be hard to hear that one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs was demolished (in fact, 76 of them have) This entertainment complex opened in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood in 1929. This complex and interesting building was bulldozed in 1929 because of prohibition.

Mark Hopkins Mansion

Railway Magnate, Mark Hopkins’ mansion was set atop San Francisco’s Nob Hill. The mansion was a perfect display of ornate pre-modernist Victorian excess. However, the magnate passed away before the mansion was completed. And the mansion was destroyed in the fire after the 1906 earthquake. The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco now stands there.

Birmingham Terminal Station

Birmingham, Alabama’s main railway station covered 2 city blocks from 1909 to 1969. The profile of this building, with its Byzantine-esque architecture, was criticised and appreciated during that era. With stained glass skylight and pew-like seating, the railway station’s waiting lounge was more like a place of worship. With the decline of railways, however, the oriental-influenced design wasn’t interesting enough to be saved from being demolished. Today, the 7-acre site waits to be allotted a new purpose.

The Beach Hotel

Texas‘ Beach Hotel was a wood-framed vision. Built in 1882, this red and white striped structure lasted only 16 years. The rare over-the-top beauty was lost in a fire.

The Hippodrome

Imagine a theatre in Manhattan, visited by people like Harry Houdini and troupes like 500-strong choruses or entire circuses. The Hippodrome was an epically proportioned theatre, the opening of which, in 1905, was a performance titled “A Yankee Circus on Mars”. With an audience capacity of 5300 and a performer capacity of 1000, it was a sought out theatre till movies entered our lives. The fame of this building was not enough to protect it from the wrecking ball. The Hippodrome Center – an office building – now occupies the site.
All images courtesy of homeadvisor.com.

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