Inventor: George Fuller

• First skyscraper built (Tacoma Building) in 1889
• Allowed for the upward growing of urban centers

With the loss of land around cities, it was almost inevitable for architects to begin looking upward for expansion.  In 1889, George Fuller built the Tacoma Building, the first structure whose walls did not support the weight of the building, but rather built steel cages of the levels to do so.  The development of the skyscraper is greatly indebted to the Bessemer process, which allowed for such steel to be used, and the elevator, which made going up twenty stories more realistic.

Today, skyscrapers dominate the scenery in the major cities of the world.  The design of a multi-level building has lent itself to many things, including housing and business.

Picture from Encarta Encyclopedia

SOURCES:

Bellis, Mary. "The History of Skyscrapers." About.com. Available 10 April 2004. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blskyscapers.htm>

• This article gave useful information on the first skyscrapers.