Daily News Building
220 E 42nd St., Manhattan, New York City, NY, 10017
One of NYC’s architectural icons, the 37-story Daily News Building served as headquarters for theNew York Daily News from 1930 to 1995, and doubled as theDaily Planet in the 1978Superman movie. Above the entrance, a frieze depicts an urban scene and in the lobby, a vintage globe rotates beneath a black glass dome.
The Basics
The Daily News Building is no longer a newspaper office and is now occupied by multiple tenants including a television station; however, you can still explore the lobby and view the giant globe. The lobby features a floor compass with directional lines revealing the distances to cities across the globe, as well as meteorological dials, clocks, and images showing Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in their roles as Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
Many architecture tours of NYC visit the lobby of the Daily News Building, as well as other nearby landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building. Superhero-themed tours of New York typically combine a visit to the Daily News Building with other NYC locations associated with comic book movies.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Daily News Building is a must-visit attractions for architecture buffs and Superman fans.
Access to areas beyond the lobby is restricted.
Entry to the Daily News Building is free.
How to Get There
The Daily News Building is situated on East 42nd Street between Second and Third avenues. To get there by public transport, ride the subway (4, 5, 6, 7, or S trains) to Grand Central; the Daily News Building is a 5-minute walk from there.
When to Get There
The Daily News Building can be visited year-round and enjoyed in any season. Come during office hours (weekdays from around 9am to 5pm) when the lobby is usually open to the public.
The Chrysler Building
Less than two blocks from the Daily News Building, you’ll find another architectural landmark: the Chrysler Building. When it was built in 1930, this art deco skyscraper was the world’s tallest building, though it didn’t hold the title for long; the even taller Empire State Building was inaugurated in 1931. Like the Daily News Building, the Chrysler Building’s lavish lobby—which features an elaborate ceiling mural by artist Edward Trumbull—is open to the public.
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