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AIU Citadel
Art by: Chris Hytha
**Story by: ** Mark Houser
Eight terracotta guardian angels symbolize the protective role of the insurance company that built this allegorical fortress. Their blank scrolls denote a future yet to be written — one which would turn out to be truncated and tragic for American Insurance Union and its highrise's subsequent owners.
AIU founder John Lentz, an attorney and former congressman, spun his company's initials into the slogan "American Ideals Uppermost." Rapid growth of his business led Lentz to erect a headquarters identical in height to the Washington Monument. Cost overruns, and then the Depression, doomed AIU. Lentz died in 1931; a day after his funeral, lightning blasted off a piece of the building. Crumbling terracotta eventually forced the removal of four large eagles and four other statuary groups, and left the rooftop cherubs headless.
Investors Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln bought the building in 1946, but LeVeque, who owned an airplane parts factory, and his wife were killed when their plane crashed into a New Hampshire mountain two months later. Their son, Fred, also died in a private plane crash in 1975.
The renovated highrise is now a mix of hotel and residential units. Its marble lobby is festooned with colorful murals and has elaborate original bronze elevator doors marked Health, Happiness, and Prosperity.
Highrises are the iconic elements of American cities. Reaching radical new heights in technological advancement, skyscrapers fused Classical, Renaissance, and Gothic motifs onto steel and defined a new architectural language with Art Deco and International.
The Highrises project reveals hidden details of remarkable buildings, including many that are underappreciated. The images showcase structures that reflect the values and ideals animating the early 20th century. The stories provide historical context and deepen our understanding of their importance and value.
Contract Address0x516d...b5d2
Token ID111
Token StandardERC-721
ChainEthereum
Last Updated1 year ago
Creator Earnings
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Highrise #112
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Hythacg
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AIU Citadel
Art by: Chris Hytha
**Story by: ** Mark Houser
Eight terracotta guardian angels symbolize the protective role of the insurance company that built this allegorical fortress. Their blank scrolls denote a future yet to be written — one which would turn out to be truncated and tragic for American Insurance Union and its highrise's subsequent owners.
AIU founder John Lentz, an attorney and former congressman, spun his company's initials into the slogan "American Ideals Uppermost." Rapid growth of his business led Lentz to erect a headquarters identical in height to the Washington Monument. Cost overruns, and then the Depression, doomed AIU. Lentz died in 1931; a day after his funeral, lightning blasted off a piece of the building. Crumbling terracotta eventually forced the removal of four large eagles and four other statuary groups, and left the rooftop cherubs headless.
Investors Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln bought the building in 1946, but LeVeque, who owned an airplane parts factory, and his wife were killed when their plane crashed into a New Hampshire mountain two months later. Their son, Fred, also died in a private plane crash in 1975.
The renovated highrise is now a mix of hotel and residential units. Its marble lobby is festooned with colorful murals and has elaborate original bronze elevator doors marked Health, Happiness, and Prosperity.
Highrises are the iconic elements of American cities. Reaching radical new heights in technological advancement, skyscrapers fused Classical, Renaissance, and Gothic motifs onto steel and defined a new architectural language with Art Deco and International.
The Highrises project reveals hidden details of remarkable buildings, including many that are underappreciated. The images showcase structures that reflect the values and ideals animating the early 20th century. The stories provide historical context and deepen our understanding of their importance and value.
Contract Address0x516d...b5d2
Token ID111
Token StandardERC-721
ChainEthereum
Last Updated1 year ago
Creator Earnings
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