These are the only 15 skyscrapers to ever be called 'The World's Tallest'

William Le Baron Jenney is the architect behind the world’s first skyscraper. The 12-story building was the first of its kind to be constructed from materials other than wood following the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

In 1931, the city tore it down and built the Field Building, now known as the LaSalle Bank Building.

Joseph Pulitzer, the publisher of the New York World newspaper, was the World Building’s original owner. Located on "Newspaper Row," this is where he ran his publication.

Designed by renowned architect George B. Post, the World (also known as the Pulitzer Building) was the first New York skyscraper to surpass the iconic Trinity Church. In 1955, the city tore it down to grant greater automobile access to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Standing 348 feet to its lantern top, the Manhattan Life Insurance Building was designed by architects Kimball & Thompson for the Manhattan Life Insurance Company’s headquarters. In 1930, the French Renaissance-style building was demolished and replaced by the Irving Trust Bank’s headquarters. The site is located one block west of the New York Stock Exchange.

Architect R.H. Robertson is responsible for the 30-story structure that housed the first Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) subway headquarters. The building’s original owner, William Mills Ivins, was in charge of a syndicate of investors, which is probably why the structure was also called the "Ivins Syndicate Building." Located at the foot of City Hall Park, it's now known as 15 Park Row, a residence complex.

The Singer Building’s memorable design is attributed to architect Ernest Flagg. Built as the headquarters of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the building stood tall until 1968, when it was torn down and replaced by the U.S. Steel Building, now known as One Liberty Plaza. The Singer Building is the tallest skyscraper ever to be purposely demolished.

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was considered the world’s largest insurer when architect Napoleon LeBrun & Sons completed the Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower. The tower looks over Madison Square Park and mimics the structure of the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, Italy. Today, it's home to Ian Schrager's swanky New York Edition Hotel.

Cass Gilbert's Gothic-style Woolworth Building served as the headquarters for the F. W. Woolworth Company, an early titan of American retail chains. Although the observation deck is no longer accessible to visitors, there are 30-, 60-, and 90-minute tours through the elegant lobby.

Its top floors are being converted to luxurious residences, the most expensive of which will cost a reported $110 million.

Now known as the Trump Building, 40 Wall Street is the tallest office building in downtown New York. The Art Deco skyscraper designed by H. Craig Severance used to be the Bank of Manhattan Trust Building. Severance raced to complete the building in less than a year to earn the title of tallest skyscraper — which he kept for less than a month.

The Chrysler Building is one of the most popular Art Deco structures in the world. Architect William Van Alen stole 40 Wall Street's crown for tallest building by secretly adding the 185-foot spire to the top of the skyscraper. Constructed with 3,826,000 bricks, it prevails as the world's tallest brick building despite its steel exterior. It held the title of "World's Tallest Building" for approximately 11 months.

Architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates spearheaded the Empire State Building's construction. On May 1, 1931, President Hoover officially opened the building that is located in the heart of Manhattan. Today, visitors can visit the 86th and 102nd floor observatory decks to experience the city's mayhem from above.

Before the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks, 1 WTC — also known as the North Tower — housed the world-famous Windows on the World restaurant on its 106th and 107th floors. Today, the Freedom Tower, which was designed by Architect David Childs, stands next to the original site, which has been memorialized with a giant fountain.

The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is still the tallest skyscraper in Chicago. Sears Roebuck and Company — the world’s largest retailer back in 1969 — needed office space for its employees and started construction in 1970. Signatures of 12,000 construction workers, Sears employees, and Chicagoans adorn the final beam.

The 88-story Petronas Towers are constructed with 33,000 stainless steel panels and 55,000 glass panels to form Islamic patterns. The 170-meter high SkyBridge on the 41st floor is the world’s highest two-story bridge, offering spectacular city views.

Taipei 101 stands 101 stories above ground and reaches five stories underground. It houses businesses, a mall, fine dining restaurants, and a 360-degree observatory deck with views of the city and distant mountains.

Situated in the heart of downtown Dubai, Burj Dubai holds the record for tallest building and tallest free-standing structure in the world. The skyscraper features a four-story fitness and recreation club, hotel guest rooms, private residences, a fine dining restaurant, and the world’s highest outdoor observation deck.