Inside the Woolworth Building’s Lobby

April 25, 2013 Arts & Culture, History

Woolworth Building Cass GilbertI went to Woolworth Week‘s tour of the Woolworth Building lobby earlier this week, and it was a pure delight—I’d been in the lobby before, but not for an hour, and not to take photos. (We could only take them at the end, so they’re a bit rushed.) I hadn’t realized that the organizers included Helen Post Curry and Chuck Post, architect Cass Gilbert’s great-grandchildren. I didn’t take much in the way of notes because I was too busy gawking, but I was amused that the grotesques included representations of Frank Woolworth (counting coins), Gilbert (holding a model of the building), and other people involved in the project. Also, the Woolworth company only used one floor; the rest was office rentals.

I’m not sure I should try to organize these photos—if you can’t tell what something is, it’s probably the ceiling (and the ceiling shots, in particular, want to be bigger, so click on them). Otherwise, I focused on the details. The craftsmanship in the building is just breathtaking.

P.S. Chuck Post told me he’s hoping to persuade the building’s management to make the lobby tours a monthly occurrence, which would be so fantastic—it’s such a shame that a place as lovely as this is off limits to so many people.

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7 Comments

  1. Rohin
    April 25, 2013 • 7:19 pm

    Absolutely incredible! Thank you for sharing these.
    How do you arrange to sign up for a tour?

  2. Erik Torkells
    April 25, 2013 • 8:39 pm

    @Rohin: Thanks! There are no regular tours at this time. Obviously if I hear of any opportunities, I’ll post about them.

  4. Bob Moore
    April 26, 2013 • 6:24 pm

    A few years ago by means of a lucky break my wife and I managed to get right up to the lantern at the top of the Woolworth building. It was quite an incredible view from there.

    I wish the owners would be more free with allowing restricted and supervised access to this wonderful building. I would love to see the swimming pool in the basement.

  5. Bronwyn
    April 29, 2013 • 9:30 am

    Thanks so much for the photographs … kicking ourselves we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity of the 100th wk. Would be wonderful to have monthly opportunity or even twice a year

  6. Gardiner Comfort
    May 10, 2013 • 11:50 pm

    Great shots Erik. In the mid-nineties they were pretty relaxed there and they’d let us wander through the lobby, which we did a lot as teenagers. It’s a real shame that you’re not able to do that now. Same thing with the Chrysler.
    It’s great to see these!
    G

  7. Gardiner Comfort
    May 10, 2013 • 11:51 pm

    Oh! Also, the Surrogate’s Court building on Chambers, right by the Brooklyn Bridge. The lobby is pretty cool, though not as extravagant obviously. My friend and I once had a wild time there and ended up on the top floor which was clearly unused. Tons of shelves of books labeled “Depositions”. We even went on the roof. I think that was even post 9-11!