Newspaper Row. Photo via Library of Congress

From 1890 to 1974, the world’s tallest building was located in New York City. However, as with most records, there have been controversies and  disagreements  surrounding which buildings are eligible and how they are measured. The organization which currently oversees this tall task is the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Founded in 1969, the Council  “is the world’s leading body in the field of tall buildings.”  Here is a timeline of New York’s world’s tallest buildings:

1890: George Post’s New York World Building

Photo via Library of Congress

1890: George Post’s New York World Building was the first building in New York to surpass the spire of Trinity Church. It was commissioned by Joseph Pulitzer as the headquarters for his New York World Newspaper. Pulitzer’s office was located in the dome of the 309 foot building. The World Building was demolished in 1955 to  accommodate the expanded Brooklyn Bridge entrance ramp.