Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower
Building Historic Manhattan clock-tower skyscraper once tallest worldwide
The Metropolitan Life Tower on Madison Avenue, modeled after Venice’s St. Mark’s Campanile, offers an early 20th‑century clock‑tower silhouette. Visitors interested in architecture and New York history stop by the Flatiron area.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower is an early 20th-century skyscraper located at 1 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, notable for its tall clock tower. The building was completed in 1909 and was for a time the world’s tallest building.
Observers note the tower’s distinctive classical clock tower silhouette and detailed masonry base as an example of early skyscraper design. The tower’s four-faced clock and its location on Madison Avenue make it a local architectural landmark.
Constructed as the headquarters of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the tower drew inspiration from St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice and opened in 1909. Its height briefly made it the tallest building in the world until later taller skyscrapers were completed.
The tower stands on Madison Avenue at East 23rd Street in Manhattan, close to Madison Square Park and the Flatiron District. It is within a short walk of several subway lines and other midtown landmarks.
- Tallest building (historic): Completed in 1909 and for a period held the title of the world's tallest building until surpassed in 1913.
What to See #
- Clock tower: The clock tower rises above the base insurance building and is modelled on the campanile of St. Mark's in Venice; the tower contains a large clock visible on four faces.
How to Get to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower #
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower (the Met Life Tower) stands at Madison Avenue and East 23rd Street adjacent to Madison Square Park in Manhattan. The nearest subway stations are 23rd Street (6 line) at Park Avenue South and 23rd Street (R/W) at Broadway - both are only a 2-5 minute walk. The building is directly accessible by street (Madison Avenue/East 23rd Street) if driving; curbside parking and metered spaces are typical in the neighborhood.
Tips for Visiting Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower #
- View the Met Life Tower from Madison Square Park or the Flatiron Plaza for the best vantage points - the park frames the tower's clock face and gives unobstructed photo angles.
- Don't expect public access to an observation deck - the building is working/residential and interior access is generally restricted, so plan exterior viewing rather than trying to enter.
- Time your visit for early morning or evening light to capture the clock tower details without daytime pedestrian congestion around the park.
Best Time to Visit Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower #
For viewing and photographing the MetLife Tower and its surroundings, spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions and fewer crowding effects than summer.
Weather & Climate near Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower #
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1214 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (115 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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