Turning now from palaces constructed for the kings and monarchs of the
earth, let us pass to palaces reared for the exhibition of the works of
industry and art of the people. And the first of these which we will
notice is the crystal palace in New York. This splendid structure, a
view of which is given in the cut below, was erected for the exhibition
of the industry and art of all nations. This magnificent building was
erected on Reservoir square, at the northern extremity of the city of
New York, from plans furnished by Messrs. Carstensen and Gildermeister.
The building is now standing, and is filled with the works of industry
and art from every part of the globe. Its main features are as follows.
It is, with the exception of the floor, entirely constructed of iron and
glass. The general idea of the edifice is that of a Greek cross,
surmounted by a dome at the intersection. Each diameter of the cross is
three hundred and sixty-five feet and five inches long. There are three
entrances, each forty-seven feet wide, and one of which is approached by
a flight of eight steps. Over each front is a large semicircular
fan-light, forty-one feet wide and twenty-one feet high, answering to
the arch of the nave. Each arm of the cross is on the ground-plan one
hundred and forty-nine feet broad. This is divided into a central nave
and two aisles, one on each side; the nave forty-one, each aisle
fifty-four feet wide. The central portion or nave is carried up to the
hight of sixty-seven feet, and the semicircular arch by which it is
spanned, is forty-one feet broad. There are thus in effect two arched
naves crossing each other at right angles, forty-one feet broad,
sixty-seven feet high to the crown of the arch, and three hundred and
sixty-five feet long; and on each side of these naves is an aisle
fifty-four feet broad and forty-five feet high. The exterior of the
ridgeway of the nave is seventy-one feet. Each aisle is covered by a
gallery of its own width, and twenty-four feet from the floor. The
central dome is one hundred feet in diameter, sixty-eight feet inside
from the floor to the spring of the arch, and one hundred and eighteen
feet to the crown; and on the outside, with the lantern, one hundred and
forty-nine feet. The exterior angles of the building are ingeniously
filled up with a triangular lean-to, twenty-four feet high, which gives
the ground-plan an octagonal shape, each side or face being one hundred
and forty-nine feet wide. At each angle is an octagonal tower eight feet
in diameter, and seventy-five feet high.
[Illustration: THE CRYSTAL PALACE IN NEW YORK.]
Ten large and eight winding staircases connect the principal floor with
the gallery, which opens on the three balconies that are situated over
the entrance hall, and afford ample space for flower decorations,
statues, vases, &c. The ten principal staircases consist of two flights
of steps with two landing-places to each; the eight winding staircases
are placed in the octagonal towers, which lead also to small balconies
on the tops of the towers and to the roof of the building.
The building contains on the ground-floor, one hundred and eleven
thousand square feet of space, and in its galleries, which are
fifty-four feet wide, sixty-two thousand square feet more, making a
total area of one hundred and seventy-three thousand square feet, for
the purposes of exhibition. There are thus on the ground-floor two acres
and a half, or exactly two and fifty-two hundredths; in the galleries,
one acre and forty-four hundredths; total, within an inconsiderable
fraction, four acres.
There are on the ground-floor one hundred and ninety octagonal cast-iron
columns, twenty-one feet above the floor, and eight inches in diameter,
cast hollow, of different thicknesses, from half an inch to one inch.
These columns receive the cast-iron girders. These are twenty-six and
one-third feet long and three feet high, and serve to sustain the
galleries and the wrought-iron construction of the roof, as well as to
brace the whole structure in every direction. The girders, as well as
the second-story columns, are fastened to the columns in the first
story, by connecting pieces of the same octagonal shape as the columns,
three feet and four inches high, having proper flanges and lugs to
fasten all pieces together by bolts. The number of lower-floor girders
is two hundred and fifty-two, besides twelve wrought-iron girders of the
same hight, and forty-one feet span over a part of the nave. The second
story contains one hundred and forty-eight columns, of the same shape as
those below, and seventeen feet and seven inches high. These receive
another tier of girders, numbering one hundred and sixty, for the
support of the roofs of the aisles, each nave being covered by sixteen
cast-iron semicircular arches, each composed of four pieces.
The dome will strike every one as the grand architectural feature of the
building. Its diameter is one hundred feet, and its hight to the
springing line is nearly seventy feet, and to the crown of the arch, one
hundred and twenty-three feet. It is said to be the largest, as well as
almost the only dome hitherto erected in the United States. It is
supported by twenty-four columns, which rise beyond the second story,
and to a hight of sixty-two feet above the principal floor. The system
of wrought-iron trusses which connects them together at the top, and is
supported by them, forms two concentric polygons, each of sixteen sides.
They receive a cast-iron bed-plate, to which the cast-iron shoes for the
ribs of the dome are bolted. The latter are thirty-two in number. They
are constructed of two curves of double angle iron, securely connected
together by trellis-work. The requisite steadiness is secured by
tie-rods, which brace them both vertically and horizontally. At the top
the ribs are bolted to a horizontal ring of wrought and cast iron, which
has a diameter of twenty-feet in the clear, and is surmounted by the
lantern. As in the other roofs of the building, the dome is cased with
matched deal and tin sheathing. Light is communicated to the interior
through the lantern, and also in part from the sides, which are pierced
for thirty-two ornamental windows. These are glazed with stained glass,
representing the arms of the union and of its several states, and form
no inconsiderable part of the interior decoration.
The external walls of the building are constructed of cast-iron framing
and panel-work, into which are inserted the sashes of the windows and
the louvers for ventilation. The glass is one-eighth of an inch thick,
and was manufactured at the Jackson glass works, New York, and afterward
enameled by Cooper & Belcher, of Camptown, N. J. The enamel, with which
the whole of it is covered, is laid upon the glass with a brush, and
after drying, is subjected to the intense heat of a kiln, by which the
coating is vitrified, and rendered as durable as the glass itself. It
produces an effect similar to that of ground glass, being translucent,
but not transparent. The sun’s rays, diffused by passing through it,
yield an agreeable light, and are deprived of that heat and glare which
belong to them in this climate. In the absence of a similar precaution
in the crystal palace at Hyde park, in England, (of which an account
will next be given,) the roofs of which, as well as walls, were inclosed
with transparent glass, it was found necessary to cover the interior of
the building with canvas, to produce the required shade.
At each angle of the building there is an octagonal tower, eight feet in
diameter and seventy-six feet in hight. These contain winding stairways,
which lead to the galleries and roofs, and were intended for the use of
the officers and employees of the association. Twelve broad staircases,
one on either side of each entrance, and four beneath the dome, connect
the principal floor with the gallery. The latter are circular in part,
and consist of two flights of steps with two landing-places. The
flooring of the galleries is made of closely matched planks, while those
forming the floor of the first story are separated by narrow intervals,
in the same manner and for the same purpose as in the London building.
Over each of the principal entrance halls, the galleries open upon
balconies, which afford ample space for placing flowers, vases and
statues for decoration. Above the balconies, the ends of the naves are
adorned with large fan-lights, corresponding to the semicircular arches
within. On each side of the entrances there are ticket offices, and
adjacent to them rooms are provided for the officers of the association,
telegraph, &c.
The rapid and unexpected increase of the applications of exhibitors,
induced the association to erect a large addition to the building
already described. It consists of two parts, of one and two stories
respectively, and occupies the entire space between the main building
and the reservoir. Its length is four hundred and fifty-one feet and
five inches, and its extreme width is seventy-five feet. It is designed
for the reception of machinery in motion, the cabinets of mining and
mineralogy, and the refreshment rooms, with their necessary offices. The
second story, which is nearly four hundred and fifty feet long,
twenty-one feet wide, and extends the whole length, is entirely devoted
to the exhibition of pictures and statuary. It is lighted from a
skylight, four hundred and nineteen feet long, and eight feet and six
inches wide.
The decorations of the building were intrusted to Henry Greenough, Esq.,
brother of the lamented sculptor of the same name. Mr. Greenough has
made art his study, and in its pursuit has resided long in Italy. The
leading idea in the plan of decoration, has been to bring out the
beautiful construction of the building; to decorate construction rather
than to construct decoration. To do this, and at the same time to
preserve a general harmony of effect, has given Mr. Greenough ample
opportunity to display his knowledge of the resources of his art. The
result is surprisingly beautiful. The colors employed on the exterior
are mixed in oil, the base being the white lead manufactured by the
Bellville Company. The exterior presents the appearance of a building
constructed of a light-colored bronze, of which all features purely
ornamental are of gold. The interior has a prevailing tone of buff, or
rich cream color, which is given to all the cast-iron constructive work.
This color is relieved by a moderate and judicious use of the three
positive colors, red, blue and yellow, in their several tints of
vermilion, garnet, sky-blue and orange, (certain parts of the ornamental
work being gilt,) to accord with the arrangement of colors employed in
the decoration of the ceilings. The only exceptions to the use of oil
colors are the ceilings of the American lean-to and the dome; these
decorations are executed on canvas. The effect of the interior of the
dome, (designed by Sr. Monte Lilia,) is particularly splendid. The rays
from a golden sun, at the center, descend between the latticed ribs, and
arabesques of white and blue, relieved by silver stars, surround the
openings.
The building is supplied with gas and water in every part. The gas was,
at first, designed for the use of the police, in protecting the property
by night; but was so arranged that now, when the building is opened in
the evenings, it affords the most ample light throughout the entire
edifice. The water is accessible at numerous points, with convenience
for drinking, also for the attachment of hose, in case of fire.
The whole quantity of iron employed in the construction amounts to
eighteen hundred tuns; of which three hundred tuns are wrought and
fifteen hundred tuns cast iron. The quantity of glass is fifteen
thousand panes, or fifty-five thousand square feet. The quantity of wood
used amounts to seven hundred and fifty thousand feet, board measure.
The general mode of erection by base pieces, columns, connecting pieces
and girders, is the same with that of the great Hyde park building, but
the construction of the arched nave, and of the dome, is of course
entirely peculiar, and the general effect of the building is completely
different. The London building was certainly deficient in architectural
effect. The form of the New York edifice affords the requisite scope for
a pleasing variety of embellishments, by which all monotony can be
avoided, and allows a very economical use of the ground. The dome,
independent of its effect in the interior arrangement of the edifice,
will give hight and majesty to the exterior.
To complete the explanation of the construction of the building, we
recapitulate its principal dimensions.
Ft. In.
From principal floor to gallery floor, 24
From principal floor to top of second tier of girders, 44 4⅜
From principal floor to top of third tier of girders, 59 10
From principal floor to ridge of nave, 67 4
From principal floor to top of bed-plate, 69 11
From principal floor to top of upper ring of dome, 123 6
From Sixth avenue curb-stone to top of lantern, 151
From Sixth avenue curb-stone to top of towers, 76 9
Area of first floor, 157,195 square feet.
Area of second floor, 92,496 square feet.
—-—--
Total area, 249,692 or 5¾ acres.
The magnitude of these proportions alone, is calculated to excite
feelings of profound awe in the spectator’s mind; and when we see added
the gorgeous but subdued chromatic decoration with which the interior is
ornamented, and the innumerable works of art and industry with which it
is so richly filled, we may well be proud of an erection which is
destined to confer lasting honor on the American name.
It was to be hoped that this splendid building, filled with the products
of the industry and art of all nations, might have remained permanently
in New York, to be an ornament to the city, and a museum for the
entertainment and instruction of visitors from every part of the country
and the world; but since the above was written, it has been decided that
the building is to be taken down, either for removal to some other
place, or for the sale of its materials.