On a day lost to history, some fortuitous humans found a glistening meteorite, mostly iron and nickel, that had barreled through the atmosphere and crashed into the ground. Eventually, some of that rock and metal formed the Earth, where it would shape the destiny of one particular species of walking ape. Over countless cosmic explosions and rebirths, these materials found their way into asteroids and other planetary bodies, which slammed into one another as the cosmic pot stirred. It begins in the stars.īillions of years before humans walked the Earth-before the Earth even existed-blazing stars fused atoms into iron and carbon. In 1989, it was made a National Historic Landmark.The story of steel begins long before bridges, I-beams, and skyscrapers.

Flatiron Building (New York City): The Flatiron Building is a triangular, steel-frame marvel that still stands in Manhattan today.

Louis): This skyscraper, designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, is famous for its terracotta facade and ornamentation.

New York World Building (New York City): This building was home to the New York World newspaper.

American Surety Building (New York City): At 300 feet tall, this 20-story building broke Chicago's height record when it was completed in 1896.Tower Building (New York City): The Tower Building, completed in 1889, was the first skyscraper in New York City.For a time it was the tallest building in Chicago. The Masonic Temple Building (Chicago): Featuring commercial, office, and meeting spaces, the Masonic Temple was completed in 1892.Rand McNally Building (Chicago): The Rand McNally Building, completed in 1889, was the first skyscraper built with an all-steel frame.Tacoma Building (Chicago): Constructed using a riveted iron and steel frame, the Tacoma Building was designed by the major architectural firm Holabird & Root.

Inventor steel