Observed annually on September 3rd, Skyscraper Day is a holiday that celebrates skyscrapers and encourages people to ascend one. These marvelous buildings were first created in 1885 and have become a symbol of the modern industrial age.

Even though some of the first skyscrapers were small compared to today’s giants, they were an important symbol of society’s transition from an agrarian to a technological one. It’s a good reason for everyone to go out there and celebrate this holiday.

The History of Skyscrapers

Although we’re unsure of when Skyscraper Day originated or who invented it, we do know about the history of skyscrapers. In fact, we know quite a lot about it. Before we delve into the history of skyscrapers, however, we should probably define what makes a building a skyscraper.

The term was first applied to buildings in the 19th century and was used to describe buildings over 10 stories tall. In cities such as New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, tall buildings were being erected during the middle of the 19th century, but the first steel-frame skyscraper wouldn’t be built until 1885.

This is when the Home Insurance Building was erected in Chicago. This building was approximately 138 feet or 10 stories tall.

Facts About Skyscrapers

Over the course of our research, we came across some facts about skyscrapers that we thought were really interesting. So we gathered together some of the more interesting facts and listed them below for everyone to enjoy.

Skyscraper Is A Nautical Term

Although some people believe that the term “skyscraper” was invented for these tall buildings, the term actually goes back to a nautical term that was used for a triangular sail set above the skysail. It wasn’t long after the first skyscraper was built, however, that the term began to be used for the buildings as well.

The World’s Tallest Skyscraper Is The Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, stands an amazing 2,717 feet tall. That’s taller than the KCLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, which was previously the tallest free-standing structure at 2,063 feet.

The Empire State Building Had A Plan For Mooring Dirigibles

One of the investors for the Empire State Building’s construction announced that the building would add an additional 200 feet to its height so that dirigibles, like Zeppelins, could dock there. However, the plan wasn’t really all that practical and was probably only stated as an excuse to claim the world’s tallest skyscraper title.

Observing Skyscraper Day

Skyscraper Day can be observed by simply taking the time to visit a local skyscraper and taking a trip up it. You can also take the time to learn more about the history of skyscrapers. While you’re observing this holiday, don’t be afraid to use the hashtag #SkyscraperDay to spread the word about it.