9. Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Manhattan
After two decades of being obscured by a sidewalk bridge, the restoration work at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin can finally be seen and appreciated. The Lucy G. Moses Award-winning project has revealed a newly restored limestone and brick façade. Restored limestone statues by John Massey Rhind are out in the open once again on 46th Street.
Known as Smoky Mary’s, for the generous incense used in services, the church was designed by Napoleon LeBrun and Sons in the French Gothic Revival style. Completed in 1895, it was the first building in the world to use steel frame construction, eliminating the need for flying buttress supports and permitting a large interior on a narrow lot.Â