Grand Central Depot (29 Years)

Grand Central Depot, 1880 with horse-drawn carriages waiting to pick up arriving passengers.Photo from New York Public Library

Before Grand Central Station, there was Grand Central Depot. The French empire style building was constructed in 1871 and was demolished between 1899 and 1900, lasting 29 years. Read about the top 10 secrets of Grand Central here and see more vintage photos here.

Other short lived buildings include the opulent Vanderbilt Mansion (now Bergdorf Goodman) which lasted about 44 years, the Schwab Mansion on Riverside Drive which lasted 42 years and the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (where the Empire State Building now stands) which moved uptown after 39 years.