Place to see: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, New York City, New York, United States

About this place:

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower stands over Madison Square Park at One Madison Avenue (between 23rd and 25th) streets, just across the park from the more famous Flatiron Building in New York City. The design of the tower was inspired by the Campanile in Venice, Italy and was built by the Metropolitan Life Insurance company in 1907. The building was the headquarters for the insurance company until 2005.

The tower was at one time the tallest building in the world until it was surpassed by the Woolworth Building, also in New York City, in 1913. The increasing need for office space by Metropolitan caused them to draw up proposals in the 1920's to expand the size and height of the tower. But after the Wall Street crash at the end of the 20's the plans were scrapped.

Each side of the tower features a clock that is nearly 30 feet in diameter. This spire became an icon when it was used for many years in the corporate advertising campaigns for the insurance company.

Since the completion of a recent renovation project which added a system of festive colored lights to the exterior, the building was sold to a group of foreign investors for conversion into residential apartments.