Tribune Building - New York City

The New-York Tribune was established in 1841 by editor Horace Greeley. The first Tribune Building, located at northeast corner of Nassau and Spruce Streets, was destroyed by fire in February 1845. A new Tribune Building, with five floors, was constructed in the same year, on the same site, 150 Nassau Street in the Printing House Square, Demolition of this building happened between May 17 and May 31, 1873.

Richard Morris Hunt (1828-1895) was the architect for the new building in neoclassic style. He also designed the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty and residences for the Vanderbilt family. The foundations of the new Tribune Building (154 Printing House Square / 154 Nassau Street) was much wider and included the same site of the earlier Tribune Building. The cornerstone was laid on January 24, 1874. Height of the main nine-story building was 150 feet, besides basement and sub-cellar. It was the largest newspaper office in the world. The whole structure was believed to be absolutely fire-proof. The clock tower summit was 240 feet from the street.

The formal opening was held on April 10, 1875, but the building would take its projected form after the alterations and additions, from July 12, 1881, to April or May 1882. Other additions were built on Spruce Street and Frankfort Street, wiping out the Pewter Mug Tavern, an old landmark.

The Building had granite on first and second stories, red brick above with geometrical designs between stories in black brick. In the first nine stories there were granite window trimmings. The main entrance on Nassau Street was located in the bay beneath the tower. Shops located in the three other bays each had separate entrances. Mansard roof, housing three stories.

Nine more floors were added in 1905 to make it an 18-story building. The Tribune moved out in the 1920s and the building was razed after demolition permits were granted on June 7, 1966. Pace University now owns the site.

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