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Car Rentals New York City and Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building is a favorite of New Yorkers and architectural admirers around the world. Although it is one of the city's lesser known skyscrapers, it is probably the building most symbolic of city itself. Bold, defiant, sophisticated and interesting, the Flatiron Building demands attention, just like the city it resides in. Considered by many to be New York City's first real skyscraper, the Flatiron Building is now one of Manhattan's most easily recognizable icons of architecture and culture. Towering some 285 feet above Fifth Avenue, the Flatiron Building is one of the easiest NYC buildings to discern. Designed like a slender hull plowing through the streets of commerce, the Flatiron Building was originally considered to be a dangerous architectural mistake. The test of time has helped to eliminate these fears, leaving the Flatiron Building with nothing but praise. An architectural tour of NYC just wouldn't be complete without a stop at this famously "flat" building, so grab a map and get ready to explore! Customer of Action Car Rentals New York City can find the Flatiron Building at Fifth Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets.

An Architectural and Cultural Icon

Built in 1902, the Flatiron building was designed by Daniel H. Burnham. Burnham's design, which was quite literally inspired by a flatiron, shocked the city. Many felt that the shape was less artistic and more dangerous than any other building NYC had ever seen. Fears that the building would simply topple over were common during the high-rise's construction, earning the building the nickname "Burnham's Folly". Even though the building was considered to be an early failure, it would quickly redeem itself. One of the first buildings in the city to employ a steel frame, the Flatiron Building quickly became a benchmark in engineering. Although contemporary critics were quite skeptical of the design, modern analysts now praise the structures six-foot wide apex and limestone wedge. Culturally speaking, the Flatiron Building boasts a hint of scandal. It is said that the building's unique design is responsible for creating unusual eddies in the wind around the structures base. This unusual occurrence is believed to be responsible for causing women's skirts to fly up as they walk down 23rd Street. Throngs of young men used to flock to the building in order to see if the fable was true. Police would often yell "23, Skidoo!" in order to scare off the men. Although this phrase has passed out of common usage, the word "scram" is still popular in the American lexicon.

A Modern Monument

Today the Flatiron Building continues to wow visitors with its unique shape and uncompromising poise. A popular tourist stop for customers of Action Car Rentals New York City, the Flatiron Building is also home to many modern day offices and work areas. Currently home to several book publishers, the Flatiron Buildings recently underwent a variety of renovations in order to ensure its stability. A definite must-see of architectural enthusiasts, the Flatiron Building is now an official New York City Landmark destination. Customers of Action Car Rentals New York City that are unable to see the building during their vacation can opt to rent a number of movies that features the structure's appearance. These include the motion pictures Spider-man and Spider-man 2, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Hitch and Armageddon. The Flatiron Building is proud to be a modern monument of New York City achievement, so don't miss your chance to check it out up close!

The Flatiron Building is currently located at the heart of the Flatiron District on Fifth Avenue. It features 22-stries of mixed Gothic and Renaissance styles. If you look closely, you can even see that the building is separated into three distinct parts. These parallel the beginning, middle and end of a classical Greek column. Although the building is covered in a layer of soot and grime, the beautiful terra cotta flowers and Grecian faces are still clearly visible. Action Car Rentals New York City highly recommends visiting this literal "slice" of New York City life today, so don't delay! Plan to visit the Flatiron District and its signature building during your upcoming Action Car Rentals New York City rent-a-car vacation!