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Which city buildings have the most beautiful, grand and opulent interiors in the US? Specifically focusing on the interiors of public-accessible buildings/museums/libraries/etc..that have stunning architecture or beautiful marble/stone halls/ceilings/floors/staircases? Specific buildings and interiors recommendations to see welcome!
Last edited by waltzpiano; 11-03-2022 at 09:34 AM..
NYC and DC. Then probably Boston and Philadelphia. Maybe Chicago, although it has less of the old grandeur type buildings commonly found in the others.
NYC and DC. Then probably Boston and Philadelphia. Maybe Chicago, although it has less of the old grandeur type buildings commonly found in the others.
The OP was referencing public accessibility. You can't go waltzing in to sightsee in many NYC buildings for security reasons.
I’ve always been very awestruck by the grandeur of the Chicago Cultural Center, particularly the massive Tiffany dome which I believe is the largest in the world. The Field Museum and Drake Hotel also come to mind.
The OP was referencing public accessibility. You can't go waltzing in to sightsee in many NYC buildings for security reasons.
Still a fair amount...
Grand Central Terminal, Public Library, Beekman Hotel, Empire State Building (lobby), Chrysler Building (Lobby), Oculus, St. Patrick's Cathedral, basically any old ornate hotel (expect the Plaza), some museums you can view the lobby without purchasing a ticket (The MET for example).
I've done unannounced NYC architectural tours in college.
But yea, there may be more accessible options in DC.
I haven't been in a while, so I don 't know what public access is anymore. But the interior of the Surrogates Court building in lower Manhattan (sometimes seen in Law & Order episodes) is the most impressive and beautiful of the older public buildings I've ever seen. Just breathtakingly beautiful from the moment you walk in. Please take a look. I bet you'll agree!
I love Union Station, Los Angeles Theater (615 South Broadway.)
Huntington Museum/Botanic Garden
Does Getty Center count? It’s more modern than opulent, but it’s open to public, it’s grand and majestic.
In Cleveland Ohio:
Severance Hall
The Connor Palace: performance art theater
Florida:
The Breaker hotel
The Colony hotel
Vizcaya Museum
The Ringling in Sarasota
Houston Tx:
The MFA
Rienzi, the European Decorative Arts Museum
Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens
Hotel Graduca
The Houstonian Hotel
La Combe d’Or hôtel
The Astonian
NOLA:
Hotel Monteleone (stayed there once, it’s a bit old and the crowd a bit trashy but the interior is in the “opulent” category nonetheless.
And some restaurants that I completely forgot the names now in French Quarter.
These are the places I have been personally just right on top of my head, I’m sure there are more popping up later. (For example D.C must have many buildings/architecture that fit the description but I’m not too familiar with D.C.)
Publicly accessible or not, there's an umpteen amount of buildings in NYC that fit this criteria. Endless amounts of hi-rises (resi and commercial) that fit this bill. My old building 99 John Street downtown had one of the sickest Art Deco lobbies you'll ever see. And these are all over the city.
Furthermore, you can still enter a lot of the publicly accessible buildings in NYC and witness all of this grandeur without ever having to pass through security.
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