Two things immediately flash any person when asked about the United States of America – Hollywood and an image of New York City’s enigmatic skyline. It is not surprising for a city that houses one of the most Instagrammed skyscrapers in the world, the famous Empire State Building, surprisingly ahead of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Ever since the first skyscraper was built in 1885 in Chicago, unimaginable technological and architectural changes have shaped how our cities look, feel and function. America’s world-renowned megapolises adorn some of the most aesthetically appealing sights when it comes to cityscapes – breathtaking skylines that shoot thousands of feet high up in the clouds, posing as concrete fingerprints.
It has long been known that the best panoramas of NYC are from Jersey City’s riverfront but where do Jersey City and Atlantic City rank among some of the country’s most spectacular but underrated city skylines?
Atlantic City
One of America’s most underrated skylines, Atlantic City is a treat to behold during evenings when lights instill life into the city that inspired Monopoly. The gambling, beach city of the north is dotted with residential high-rises and casino hotels along the Atlantic coast, such as the Borgata, Hard Rock, Harrah’s and the tallest at 220m – Ocean Casino Resort.
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Minneapolis
Minnesota’s capital is home to approximately 200 high-rise buildings that are astonishingly interconnected with the famous skyway system that functions as a pedestrian footbridge covering 80 blocks in the city across 10 miles! The 57-story IDS Center dominates the skyline, followed by the Capella Tower and the Wells Fargo Center.
Salt Lake City
Who said a skyline has to take into account only buildings? Salt Lake City’s brilliant mountain landscape in the background merges with the city’s impressive skyline to provide awe-inspiring views of the city from afar. Utah’s capital does not possess the concrete prowess as others in the list, but the city makes up for it with its lovely mountain scenery. It is touted to add a few more skyscrapers to its arsenal in 2021.
Cincinnati
Ohio sure does possess a jewel of a cityscape in its presence with Cincinnati. The baseball-mad city on the northern end of the Ohio river beams in all its skyscraper glory, fronted by the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, after which New York’s Brooklyn Bridge is modeled. There are 30 gigantic buildings in downtown Cincinnati that stand at least 250 feet high.
Jersey City
Photo by Tomas Martinez on Unsplash
Jersey City is undoubtedly overshadowed by arguably the best skyline in the world that neighbors it. While Manhattan dwarfs Jersey City, one cannot ignore the importance of comparative silence here across the Hudson. The 99 Hudson is the tallest building in the city, rising to almost a thousand feet, followed by other residential buildings, condominiums and office spaces.
St. Louis
One of the prettiest, unspoken skylines in the country, St. Louis’ cityscape is marked by the presence of the gigantic 630-foot Gateway Arch monument, which is also the tallest accessible structure in the state of Missouri. Higher than the Washington Monument, the arch is accompanied by the One Metropolitan Square, One AT&T Center and the second tallest judicial building in the world, the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse.
Portland
Just like Salt Lake City, Portland is complemented with the presence of a towering natural beauty – the incredibly imposing Mount Hood – which is visible from around 80 kilometers away in Portland on a clear cloudless day. Do visit the community landmark Pittock Mansion for one of the best panoramic views of the city, as it sits 1,000 feet above sea level.
Pittsburgh
Aesthetically beautiful Pittsburgh is a sight to cherish, whether it be in the heat of the day or in the chills of the night. The history of skyscrapers in the city dates back to the late 19th century when the architectural sky-scraping feats were only in their infancy. Flanked by the Ft. Pitt and Ft. Duquesne bridges on either side, Pittsburgh adorns a wonderful nest of towers in a small area that glitter the night skyline.
Anchorage
The last name one would have thought, here is Anchorage joining the ranks of Portland and Salt Lake City for the landscape-cityscape merger. Although it possesses 22 skyscrapers no taller than 300 feet at most, the sight of downtown Anchorage from Earthquake Park across the heart of the city is one of sheer proportions due to the dramatic presence of the Chugach Mountains in the background.
Main Photo by Reynaldo #brigworkz Brigantty
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
