National Skyscraper Day: Simple Ways To Celebrate, Interesting Facts

National Skyscraper Day, observed annually on the third of September, celebrates these engineering marvels. Though these buildings have become more common in modern times, they still do not fail to amaze us.

The world was introduced to the first modern skyscraper with the completion of the Home Insurance Building in Chicago in 1885. At just 138 feet tall and 10 stories high, it won't even qualify as a skyscraper today. Even though it was demolished in 1931 for the construction of another skyscraper, it has become a part of these buildings' history.

Today, a building qualifies as a skyscraper if it has at least 40 floors and they have popped up all over the world. The highest skyscraper in the world now stands in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Burj Khalifa, completed in 2010, stands at an impressive 2,717 feet (828 meters) high, with 163 occupied floors.

On this day, celebrate by visiting a skyscraper near your location, whether you opt to stay outside to marvel at its sheer height, or hop in an elevator to watch the sights from up high. Some skyscrapers even offer activities for tourists.

You can also look into some of the tallest and most interesting skyscrapers from around the world, or perhaps read about the engineering behind their impressive designs. Those with kids can engage in skyscraper-related activities. For instance, they can use craft materials to build their own skyscrapers together.

Whatever activity you choose, the point is to celebrate these marvels of modern engineering.

Let's look at some interesting skyscraper facts that may pique your interest in these high-rise buildings. (Courtesy: TimeAndDate, Reader's Digest and Britannica)

• The term skyscraper didn't always refer to tall buildings. In 1788, it was used to describe a "really tall horse" and later on it was used as a nautical term that refers to a "small triangular sail" above the ship's mast.
• There are several criteria to determine which building is the tallest in the world, not just its height. This includes the "highest occupied floor."
• Today, Asia has the most number of skyscrapers in the world, with China building 88 skyscrapers in 2018 alone.
• The second tallest building in the world is the Shanghai Tower in China, followed by the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
• The record for the longest survived elevator fall belongs to elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver. It happened in 1945 when an elevator in the Empire State Building plummeted from the 75th floor. While 14 people perished, Oliver survived.
• Since around the 1970s, Los Angeles required buildings 75 feet tall or higher to have a helipad in case of emergencies, making for flat rooftops. This was only changed in 2014, provided that other safety measures are met.
• Skyscrapers were originally meant for commercial architecture, but they've increasingly been used as residential buildings as well.
• Superstition has also made its way into skyscrapers, with some buildings omitting floors 13 and 4 because they are considered unlucky.
• The Empire State Building beat the Chrysler Building as the world's tallest after just 11 months. It ended up being the longest to hold the "world's tallest building" title.