World's littlest skyscraper
The Newby–McMahon Building, commonly referred to as the World's littlest skyscraper, is located at 511 7th Street (on the corner of Seventh and La Salle streets) in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas. 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. 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.
| Newby–McMahon Building | |
|---|---|
Photographed in January 2016 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Mixed-use |
| Location | Wichita Falls, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 33.9144°N 98.4897°W |
| Construction started | 1919 |
| Completed | 1919 |
| Opening | 1919 |
| Cost | $200,000 (equivalent to $3,375,816 in 2022) |
| Height | |
| Roof | 12.2 m (40.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 habitable floors |
| Floor area | 40 m2 (430 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Michael Beards |
| Structural engineer | J.D. McMahon |
| Main contractor | J.D. McMahon |
Newby–McMahon Building | |
| Part of | Depot Square Historic District (Wichita Falls, Texas) (ID03001552) |
| Designated CP | February 4, 2004 |
| References | |
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 Newby–McMahon Building was featured in Robert Ripley's Ripley's Believe It or Not! syndicated column as "the world's littlest skyscraper," a nickname that has stuck with it ever since. The Newby–McMahon Building is now part of the Depot Square Historic District of Wichita Falls, a Texas Historic Landmark.