The world's first skyscraper

Englishman, Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) invented first process for mass-producing steel inexpensively, essential to the development of skyscrapers.

An American, William Kelly, had held a patent for "a system of air blowing the carbon out of pig iron" another method of steel production. Bankruptcy forced Kelly to sell his patent to Henry Bessemer, who had been working on a similar process for making steel. Bessemer patented "a decarbonization process, utilizing a blast of air" in 1855. Modern steel is made using technology based on Henry Bessemer's process.

The "invention" of the skyscraper lies with George A. Fuller (1851-1900). George Fuller worked on solving the problems of the "load bearing capacities" of tall buildings. George Fuller built the Tacoma Building in 1889, the first structure ever built where the outside walls did not carrying the weight of the building. Using Bessemer steel beams, Fuller created steel cages that supported all the weight in tall buildings or skyscrapers.

The Flatiron Building was one of New York City's first skyscrapers (Broadway and 23rd), built in 1902 by Fuller's building company. Daniel H. Burnham was the chief architect.