in Places & People

America’s Lost Landmarks: Famous Historic Buildings And Landmarks That No Longer Exist

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We all live in beautiful cities, towns, buildings, and houses, and they represent our culture and history. They also express our values and aspirations. Architecture from the past illustrates our ancestors, their lifestyles, values, and outlooks. The buildings started becoming taller since the last decades of the nineteenth century. In the 20th century, we built some of the incredible buildings and landmarks. We have demolished some iconic landmarks and buildings that once represented our culture and history.

Here below, we have compiled some of the most incredible buildings, train stations, offices, hotels, and many other architectures that we have demolished. Also, check demolished landmarks and structures of New York City.

#1 Pennsylvania Station, 1910.

Pennsylvania Station, 1910.

It was demolished in 1963.

11 Points
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#2 Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908.

Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908.

Demolished around 1970 to make room for a mall.

11 Points
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#3 North Terminal Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 1890s.

North Terminal Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 1890s.

It was demolished in 1927.

9 Points
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#4 Imperial Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1904.

Imperial Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1904.

It was built as the National Surgical Institute in the mid 1890s, but quickly went bankrupt. After serving as a medical school for a short time, it was converted into a hotel. In the late 1940s it was demolished for a parking lot.

9 Points
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#5 Hotel Astor, Times Square, New York, 1909.

Hotel Astor, Times Square, New York, 1909.

It was demolished in 1968.

6 Points
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#6 The Singer Building, New York circa 1913.

The Singer Building, New York circa 1913.

It was completed in 1908 and demolished in 1967.

6 Points
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#7 Chicago & North Western Railway Station, Milwaukee circa 1899.

Chicago & North Western Railway Station, Milwaukee circa 1899.

It was demolished in 1968.

5 Points
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#8 Detroit Post Office, 1912. The old Federal Building, a Romanesque Revival extravaganza completed in 1897.

Detroit Post Office, 1912. The old Federal Building, a Romanesque Revival extravaganza completed in 1897.

It was demolished in 1931

5 Points
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#9 Riverside Inn, Saranac Lake, Adirondack Mountains, N.Y. Circa 1909.

Riverside Inn, Saranac Lake, Adirondack Mountains, N.Y. Circa 1909.

It was demolished in 1935

5 Points
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#10 Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, New Jersey circa 1906.

Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, New Jersey circa 1906.

It was demolished in 1972.

5 Points
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#11 Victorian house, Dubuque, Iowa, April 1940.

Victorian house, Dubuque, Iowa, April 1940.

It was demolished in 1956 for a parking lot.

5 Points
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#12 Wabash Station, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1905.

Wabash Station, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1905.

It was demolished in 1954.

5 Points
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#13 Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York City, 1900.

Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York City, 1900.

Built in 1882 and demolished in 1930.

4 Points
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#14 Tower of City Hall after earthquake and fire, San Francisco, April 1906.

Tower of City Hall after earthquake and fire, San Francisco, April 1906.

4 Points
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#15 Young’s Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic City. 1905.

Young's Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic City. 1905.

Young's Million Dollar Pier survived until 1981 when it was demolished and replaced with a concrete pier known as "Ocean One." In 2002 it became "The Pier Shops At Caesars" but is currently in foreclosure.

4 Points
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#16 Courthouse, Columbus, Ohio, 1907.

Courthouse, Columbus, Ohio, 1907.

It was built in 1884, was demolished in January 2012.

4 Points
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#17 Terminal Station at Canal Street, New Orleans circa 1910.

Terminal Station at Canal Street, New Orleans circa 1910.

It was demolished in 1956

3 Points
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#18 ity Hall Post Office, New York State, 1905.

ity Hall Post Office, New York State, 1905.

Designed by Alfred Mullett, completed in 1880 and demolished in 1939.

3 Points
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#19 Hotel Manhattan, 42nd Street, New York circa 1904.

Hotel Manhattan, 42nd Street, New York circa 1904.

The Hotel Manhattan was designed by Henry Hardenbergh, architect of the Dakota Apartments and the Plaza Hotel, and built in 1896-1897. It was demolished in 1961.

3 Points
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#20 The Firs also known as the Hatheway House, located at Mile Road in New Baltimore, 1901

The Firs also known as the Hatheway House, located at Mile Road in New Baltimore, 1901

It was constructed in 1860 by Gilbert Hatheway and demolished in 2005.

2 Points
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#21 Kay Hotel near the Junction of Main and Delaware Streets, Kansas City, Missouri, 1906.

Kay Hotel near the Junction of Main and Delaware Streets, Kansas City, Missouri, 1906.

It was demolished in 1952.

2 Points
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#22 Etowah County Courthouse, Gadsden, Alabama, December, 1940.

Etowah County Courthouse, Gadsden, Alabama, December, 1940.

It was demolished in the 1950s.

2 Points
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#23 Post Office, Fourth Avenue and Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh circa 1904.

Post Office, Fourth Avenue and Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh circa 1904.

Built in the 1880s and demolished in 1966.

2 Points
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#24 Campus Martius, Detroit, 1890s

Campus Martius, Detroit, 1890s

It was demolished in 1960 to build a underground parking garage.

2 Points
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#25 The Metropolitan Building, originally known as the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building.

The Metropolitan Building, originally known as the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building.

It was opened in 1890 and demolished in 1961.

2 Points
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#26 Hotel Ponchartrain Detroit, Michigan, circa 1912.

Hotel Ponchartrain Detroit, Michigan, circa 1912.

Demolished in the 1920s and now there is a Crown Plaza.

2 Points
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#27 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911.

Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911.

It was demolished in 1960 and replaced by the current library building.

2 Points
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#28 The Sun newspaper building on New York’s Park Row, 1914.

The Sun newspaper building on New York's Park Row, 1914.

It was demolished in the 1960s.

2 Points
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#29 Produce Exchange, Toledo, Ohio, 1899.

Produce Exchange, Toledo, Ohio, 1899.

Built in 1878 and demolished in 1984.

2 Points
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#30 Deer Island Light off Boston, 1906.

Deer Island Light off Boston, 1906.

The old lighthouse was demolished in 1982 and replaced with the new one

2 Points
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#31 Jamaica Avenue, Queens, New York, 1944.

Jamaica Avenue, Queens, New York, 1944.

It was demolished in 1977 and replaced with totally new structures.

2 Points
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#32 Diamond Bank Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1909.

Diamond Bank Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1909.

It was demolished in 1950s.

2 Points
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#33 Ryan Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1905.

Ryan Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1905.

The Hotel Ryan was demolished in 1962

2 Points
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#34 Boardwalk and Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1904.

Boardwalk and Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1904.

It was demolished in 1980 to make room for a parking lot.

2 Points
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#35 Mechanics Hall, Huntington Avenue, Boston, 1906.

Mechanics Hall, Huntington Avenue, Boston, 1906.

Demolished in 1959 to make way for Prudential Center.

2 Points
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#36 Hotel New Mathewson, Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, circa 1910.

Hotel New Mathewson, Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, circa 1910.

It was demolished in 1918.

2 Points
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#37 Betz Building, Broad and South Penn Square, Philadelphia circa 1900.

Betz Building, Broad and South Penn Square, Philadelphia circa 1900.

It was demolished in 1926.

2 Points
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#38 The Wabash Bridge over the Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938.

The Wabash Bridge over the Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938.

When the terminal burned in 1946, the bridge became useless. It was demolished in 1948.

1 Point
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#39 Waukesha Hotel and Rector Bath House — Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1905.

Waukesha Hotel and Rector Bath House -- Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1905.

It was demolished in 1960

1 Point
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#40 Stoneleigh Court, Washington, D.C., circa 1925.

Stoneleigh Court, Washington, D.C., circa 1925.

Stoneleigh Court, completed in 1902, was home to many Washington notables over the years, including Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. It was demolished in 1965

1 Point
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#41 Indiana National Bank, Virginia Avenue, 1904.

Indiana National Bank, Virginia Avenue, 1904.

It was demolished in 1970.

1 Point
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#42 The former Minneapolis Exposition Hall, demolished in 1940.

The former Minneapolis Exposition Hall, demolished in 1940.

1 Point
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#43 Monroe Avenue and City Hall, Detroit circa 1910.

Monroe Avenue and City Hall, Detroit circa 1910.

All of these buildings were demolished about 1990.

1 Point
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#44 Riggs House formerly in WashingtonD.C., circa 1910.

Riggs House formerly in WashingtonD.C., circa 1910.

It was demolished in the 1950s to make way for a much larger office building.

1 Point
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#45 DeSoto Hotel and Jasper monument, Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1910.

DeSoto Hotel and Jasper monument, Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1910.

The hotel was demolished in 1968.

1 Point
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#46 Keith’s Theatre Philadelphia circa 1907.

Keith's Theatre Philadelphia circa 1907.

It was demolished in 1971.

1 Point
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#47 Hotel Ormond at Ormond Beach, Florida, 1894.

Hotel Ormond at Ormond Beach, Florida, 1894.

It was demolished in 1992.

1 Point
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#48 Great Northern Hotel and office building, Chicago circa 1895-1900.

Great Northern Hotel and office building, Chicago circa 1895-1900.

It was demolished in 1940 and has since been replaced by the Dirksen Federal Building.

1 Point
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#49 Tombs Prison N.Y. and Manhattan Criminal Courts Building in November 1907.

Tombs Prison N.Y. and Manhattan Criminal Courts Building in November 1907.

It was demolished in 1941.

1 Point
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#50 Hotel Charlevoix, Park Boulevard canyon, Detroit, 1916.

Hotel Charlevoix, Park Boulevard canyon, Detroit, 1916.

It was demolished on June 23, 2013.

1 Point
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#51 The Coliseum, 15th & Wabash Avenue, Chicago circa 1907.

The Coliseum, 15th & Wabash Avenue, Chicago circa 1907.

Built in 1899, closed 1971, demolished 1982.

1 Point
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#52 St. Paul Building, New York, 1901.

St. Paul Building, New York, 1901.

One of the first structures to be called a skyscraper, the 26-story St. Paul was completed in 1898 and demolished 60 years later.

1 Point
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#53 Union Station, Columbus, Ohio, 1910.

Union Station, Columbus, Ohio, 1910.

It was built in 1897 and demolished in 1979.

1 Point
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#54 Cossitt Library and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906.

Cossitt Library and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906.

The Cossitt was demolished in 1958.

1 Point
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#55 Metropolitan Methodist Church, C Street, Washington, D.C, 1924.

Metropolitan Methodist Church, C Street, Washington, D.C, 1924.

It was demolished in 1936.

1 Point
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#56 Masonic Temple, State Street, Chicago, September 11, 1900.

Masonic Temple, State Street, Chicago, September 11, 1900.

It was completed in 1892 and demolished in 1939.

1 Point
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#57 Gillender Building, New York circa 1900.

Gillender Building, New York circa 1900.

It was completed in 1897, met the wrecking ball in 1910.

1 Point
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#58 Hotel Shelburne, Atlantic City circa 1910.

Hotel Shelburne, Atlantic City circa 1910.

Originally built in 1869 and over the years went through a slew of owners and renovations before finally being demolished 117 years later in 1986.

0 Points
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#59 Rhinelander Row, Seventh Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, New York City, 1936.

Rhinelander Row, Seventh Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, New York City, 1936.

It was demolished in 1937.

0 Points
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#60 Majestic Building, Detroit, Circa 1880-1899.

Majestic Building, Detroit, Circa 1880-1899.

It was demolished in 1962.

0 Points
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#61 Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, 1904.

Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, 1904.

It was demolished in 1958 after being gutted by a four-alarm fire.

0 Points
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#62 Old Maplewood estate near Lewinsville in Fairfax County, Virginia, 1925.

Old Maplewood estate near Lewinsville in Fairfax County, Virginia, 1925.

The residence was demolished in 1970

0 Points
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#63 Winding tower at Vicksburg National Military Park, 1909.

Winding tower at Vicksburg National Military Park, 1909.

It was demolished in the 1960s.

0 Points
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#64 Murphy’s Hotel, Richmond, Virginia, circa 1905.

Murphy's Hotel, Richmond, Virginia, circa 1905.

It was demolished in 2007.

0 Points
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#65 Isis Theatre at 124 W. Reno Avenue in OKC.

Isis Theatre at 124 W. Reno Avenue in OKC.

It was demolished in the late 1950s.

0 Points
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#66 The Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit circa 1907.

The Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit circa 1907.

It was demolished in 1920 o make way for the National Bank Building at 660 Woodward Ave.

0 Points
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#67 Hotel Tuler and Hotel Statler in Detroit, Michigan, circa 1920.

Hotel Tuler and Hotel Statler in Detroit, Michigan, circa 1920.

The Tuller was demolished in 1992, and the Statler went down in 2005.

0 Points
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#68 Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1905.

Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1905.

Demolished in the 1920s and replaced with the new building.

0 Points
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#69 Casino Theater, New York circa 1920.

Casino Theater, New York circa 1920.

The Casino was demolished in 1930.

0 Points
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#70 Hudson Terminal buildings, Lower Manhattan circa 1910.

Hudson Terminal buildings, Lower Manhattan circa 1910.

It was demolished in 1972.

0 Points
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#71 Emergency Fleet Corporation building, Washington, D.C., circa 1918.

Emergency Fleet Corporation building, Washington, D.C., circa 1918.

It closed in 1978 & was demolished a year later.

0 Points
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#72 Charleston orphan house, Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1900.

Charleston orphan house, Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1900.

In 1951, the Orphan House property on the corner of Calhoun and St. Philip Streets in downtown Charleston, was sold and the Orphan House itself was demolished.

0 Points
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#73 Detroit City Hall, Bagley Fountain and Majestic Building.

Detroit City Hall, Bagley Fountain and Majestic Building.

Old City Hall was demolished in the 1960s

0 Points
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#74 Post Office, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1902.

Post Office, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1902.

It was demolishted in 1931.

0 Points
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#75 Garden Hotel, Atlantic City, 1904.

Garden Hotel, Atlantic City, 1904.

The hotel was demolished in 1933.

0 Points
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#76 Chandler Hall, Hanover, New Hampshire, circa 1901

Chandler Hall, Hanover, New Hampshire, circa 1901

It was demolished in 1937.

0 Points
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#77 Grand Circus building, Detroit circa 1908.

Grand Circus building, Detroit circa 1908.

The Grand Circus building was built in 1887 by David Whitney, it was demolished in 1914.

0 Points
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#78 Fort Pitt Hotel, Penn Avenue, Pittsburg, 1905.

Fort Pitt Hotel, Penn Avenue, Pittsburg, 1905.

It was demolished 1967

0 Points
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#79 Allyn House, Hartford, Connecticut, 1908.

Allyn House, Hartford, Connecticut, 1908.

It was demolished in 1960.

0 Points
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#80 The Douglas family home in Takoma Park, Maryland, circa 1895.

The Douglas family home in Takoma Park, Maryland, circa 1895.

It was demolished in 1960 to make way for a nursing home.

0 Points
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#81 Powerhouse of the Great Southern Hotel, Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1906.

Powerhouse of the Great Southern Hotel, Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1906.

It was demolished in the 1980s.

0 Points
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#82 Atlantic Hotel, Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1906.

Atlantic Hotel, Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1906.

It was demolished in the 1970s.

0 Points
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#83 Tifft House, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900.

Tifft House, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900.

It was demolished in 1902.

0 Points
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#84 Planters Hotel, Fourth and Chestnut, St. Louis circa 1901.

Planters Hotel, Fourth and Chestnut, St. Louis circa 1901.

It was completed in 1893 and demolished in 1976.

0 Points
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#85 The Hollenden, Cleveland, 1900.

The Hollenden, Cleveland, 1900.

It was first opened in 1885 and demolished in 1962.

0 Points
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#86 Union Station, Portland, Maine, 1909.

Union Station, Portland, Maine, 1909.

It was demolished in 1961

0 Points
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#87 Hotel Marion, Little Rock, Arkansas, circa 1908.

Hotel Marion, Little Rock, Arkansas, circa 1908.

It was demolished in 1980.

0 Points
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#88 Municipal Palace, Cincinnati circa 1907.

Municipal Palace, Cincinnati circa 1907.

It was completed in 1885 and demolished in 1936.

0 Points
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#89 Shoreham Hotel, 15th and H Streets N.W., Washington, D.C., circa 1917.

Shoreham Hotel, 15th and H Streets N.W., Washington, D.C., circa 1917.

It was demolished in 1929.

0 Points
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#90 National Bank of Savannah, Bull Street, Georgia circa 1907.

National Bank of Savannah, Bull Street, Georgia circa 1907.

It was completed in 1905 and demolished in 1975.

0 Points
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#91 Palatine Hotel, Newburgh, New York, circa 1906.

Palatine Hotel, Newburgh, New York, circa 1906.

It was demolished in 1970.

0 Points
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#92 Monticello Hotel, Norfolk, Virginia, 1902.

Monticello Hotel, Norfolk, Virginia, 1902.

The original hotel was destroyed by a fire on New Year's Day in 1918, and rebuilt in 1919. It was demolished in 1976 as part of Norfolk's ongoing urban renewal project.

0 Points
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#93 Barge Office, New York, 1900.

Barge Office, New York, 1900.

It was demolished in the early 20th century.

0 Points
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#94 Illions Theater, Chicago, 1907.

Illions Theater, Chicago, 1907.

Built in 1900, shuttered during the Depression and demolished in 1936.

0 Points
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#95 West Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1905.

West Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1905.

It was demolished in 1940

0 Points
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#96 Yates Hotel, Syracuse, N.Y. 1905.

Yates Hotel, Syracuse, N.Y. 1905.

Opened in 1892 and demolished in 1971

0 Points
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#97 Tremont Street building, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1906.

Tremont Street building, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1906.

It was demolished in the early 1950s and for many years its former site stood empty as a parking lot.

-1 Points
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37 Comments

  1. These are some beautiful building, it’s a shame it was lost. But they were down because a larger building could generate more profit. This is almost the only reason older buildings are torn down in American cities. That lot was torn down for the same reason as the Harrison building.

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