Reynolds Building.

Reynolds Building, Precursor to Empire State Building

Built in 1929, the Reynolds Building skyscraper may look familiar -- because it's a much smaller design precursor to the 1931 Empire State Building: 21 floors vs. 102. Also, no observation deck or docking mast for Zeppelins. It boasted that it was the "Tallest Building in the South" until 1964 -- if you don't count one very tall obelisk. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014

A common myth, popular in the South, is that every year the Empire State Building sent a Father's Day card to the Reynolds Building in gratitude. That isn't true, but in 1979 the Empire State Building did send the Reynolds Building a card for its 50th birthday.

Reynolds Building, Precursor to Empire State Building

Address:: 401 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC
Directions:: Downtown, on the northeast corner of N. Main St. and 4th St. E.
Admission:: Free

More on Reynolds Building, Precursor to Empire State Building

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