World's littlest skyscraper

Newby–McMahon Building
Newby–McMahon Building, c. 1919, also known as the "Worlds Littlest Skyscraper"
Photographed in January 2016
Map
General information
TypeMixed-use
LocationWichita Falls, Texas, United States
Coordinates33°54′52″N 98°29′23″W / 33.9144°N 98.4897°W / 33.9144; -98.4897
Construction started1919
Completed1919
Opening1919
Cost$200,000 (equivalent to $3,514,779 in 2023)
Height
Roof12.2 m (40.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count4 habitable floors
Floor area40 m2 (430 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Michael Beards
Structural engineerJ. D. McMahon
Main contractorJ. D. McMahon
Newby–McMahon Building
Part ofDepot Square Historic District (Wichita Falls, Texas) (ID03001552[1])
Designated CPFebruary 4, 2004
References
[1][2][3]

The Newby-McMahon Building, commonly referred to as the World's littlest skyscraper, is a historic four-story[4] building located at 511 7th Street[5] (on the corner of Seventh and La Salle streets) in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas.[6] It is a late Neoclassical style red brick and cast stone structure. It stands 40 ft (12 m) tall, and its exterior dimensions are 18 ft (5.5 m) deep and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide.[2] Its interior dimensions are approximately 12 ft (3.7 m) by 9 ft (2.7 m), or approximately 108 sq ft (10.0 m2). Steep, narrow, internal stairways leading to the upper floors occupy roughly 25% of the interior area.[3]

Reportedly the result of a fraudulent investment scheme by a con artist, the Newby-McMahon Building was a source of great embarrassment to the city and its residents after its completion in 1919. During the 1920s, the building was featured in Robert Ripley's Ripley's Believe It or Not! syndicated column as "the world's littlest skyscraper,"[7] a nickname that has stuck with it ever since. It is now part of the Depot Square Historic District of Wichita Falls, a Texas Historic Landmark.

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  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ARN19980820 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Stowers2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference OConnor1986 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Belefanti2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Watson2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Garner2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).