Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Liberty Tower

New York City Designated Landmark

Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 9, 2019

1. The Liberty Tower Marker

Inscription.
Designed by Henry Ives Cobb and built in 1909, this handsome Neo-Gothic skyscraper is an important predecessor of the Woolworth Building. One of the earliest of the Romantic skyscrapers that changed the skyline of Manhattan at the beginning of the 20th Century, Liberty Tower was the headquarters of the Sinclair Oil Company from 1909 to 1945. Rising 33 stories without a setback, the façade is clad entirely in white terra cotta and enlivened with fanciful ornament, including birds and alligators. Once known as “the tallest building in the world on so small an area of ground”, this freestanding building was the site of one of the earliest residential conversion projects in Lower Manhattan.

New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation
2013

Erected 2013 by New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 40° 42.526′ N, 74° 0.565′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Financial District. Marker is at the intersection of Liberty Street and Nassau Street, on the left when traveling east on Liberty Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 55 Liberty Street, New York NY 10005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Federal Reserve Bank of New York (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Federal Reserve Bank of New York (a few steps from this marker); Chamber of Commerce / Liberty Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); 33 Liberty Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Equitable Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 28 Liberty (within shouting distance of this marker); Former Residence of Thomas Jefferson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); August 30, 1956 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Regarding The Liberty Tower. The building is listed in the "AIA (American Institute of Architects) Guide to New York City, Fifth Edition".

Also see . . . The 1910 Liberty Tower Buildling -- No. 55 Liberty St. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 6, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

The Liberty Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 9, 2019

2. The Liberty Tower

The marker is at the corner of Liberty and Nassau Streets.

"Heritage Trail" marker, 2000 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, February 15, 2015

3. "Heritage Trail" marker, 2000

"Terra-cotta alligator" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 9, 2019

4. "Terra-cotta alligator"

The alleged alligators are, in fact, misrepresented dragons.

"Exploring Lower Manhattan" version, 2019 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 9, 2019

5. "Exploring Lower Manhattan" version, 2019

On this most recent version of the marker, the Liberty Tower information is again amalgamated with that of the Chamber of Commerce building.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on January 17, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.