The world’s skylines are constantly changing. Some of the most historically stunning architectural gems are now gone forever, thanks to new constructions, natural disasters, and political conflicts. While some were rebuilt or changed location, others are now only memories of the past. We’ve put together a collection of breathtaking buildings that were once marveled at for their design and role in society.
The Hippodrome Stood On 6th Avenue in New York City from 1905 to 1939. It was one of the largest theaters of its time, with a seating capacity of over 5,000.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Old Metropolitan Opera House was built in 1883 in New York City. First home of the Metropolitan Opera Company, it was demolished in 1967, and performances were moved to Lincoln Center.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)
New York’s original Penn Station was built in 1910. It was sold and demolished to make room for a larger rail station and Madison Square Garden.
(Photo by Cervin Robinson, HABS photographer / Wikimedia Commons)
Chorley Park was the fourth Government House constructed in the early 20th century in Toronto. The birthplace of Toronto alderman John Hallam, it was bought by the city in 1960 and eventually demolished in 1961.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Vanderbilt family built a number of mansions in New York City in the 1880s. The home pictured here belonged to Cornelius Vanderbilt II. It was the largest private residence ever constructed in Manhattan.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The original Waldorf Astoria Hotel opened in the 1890s, combining the Astor and Waldorf Hotels. It was destroyed in 1929, and the hotel moved to its new location in the city, where it still stands today.
(credit: New York Public Library)
The Marlborough Hotel (built in 1902) and the Blenheim (built in 1906) were located in Atlantic City, New Jersey and hosted many notable guests, including Winston Churchill. They were demolished in 1979 to make room for casinos.
(credit: U.S. Government / Wikimedia Commons)
Steel magnate Charles Schwab built an ornate 75-room mansion on New York’s Riverside Drive in 1905. It was publicly demolished in 1948.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Singer Building in lower Manhattan served as the headquarters of the Singer Manufacturing Company and was completed in 1908. It was demolished 60 years later, in 1968.
(credit: Wikimedia Commons)